The announcement, made on 22 November by the Ministry of Investment, Convergence and the Evaluation of Public Policies (MICEPP), confirms that the country’s first polysilicon plant will be located in the El Ouatia industrial zone near the southern city of Tan-Tan.

According to the ministry, the project represents an investment of 8 billion Dirhams (US$863 million) and is expected to create around 3,500 direct and indirect jobs. The government said the facility will “further strengthen Morocco’s leadership in renewable energy and foster the development of related industrial value chains, particularly in solar panel component manufacturing.”

While additional details on the construction timeline were not provided, MICEPP noted that 85% of the polysilicon output is expected to be exported.