In these times of crisis, of doubts and uncertainties, of global chaos and in the absence of good communication that enlightens us on government strategy, we have gotten into the habit of constructing our understanding of reality by indulging to the exercise of systematic interpretation of the actions and actions of our leaders. Over time, the political actor took a liking to it, making this practice his own by emphasizing the play on verbal and non-verbal symbols.
The photo published this Thursday evening by the Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch on
What do we see in this photo?
First of all, the architect of this meeting, Mohcine Jazzouli. The investment boss of the Akhannouch government. Voluntarily or not, he is at the center of the group, its barycenter. Adopting an upright posture, that of an axis, a pivot around which the rest of this galaxy floats.
Then the Chief, who for protocol reasons to place on his left, his political ally, alias the “mediator” of the Istiqlal party, Nizar Barakathen the Chinese wolf warrior the ambassador Li Changlin.
To Akhannouch’s right, another Chinese who has just given him a “effect” of $1.3 billion (12.8 billion MAD) and the hope of employing more than 17,000 Moroccans.
This is the boss of Gotion High Tech, one of China’s leading manufacturers of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.
Then stands, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, the coordinator of the other party in the government coalition, the PAM, Aziz Akhannouch’s main political competitor. At the very end of the first line, the government banker, the most powerful man in the gang after Akhannouch, Fouzi Lekjaa.
On the second line of the front, left side, we find the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, “trending” in spite of herself in recent weeks because of Twiggy. Standing next to her, the discreet foal of Moncef Jazouli, the CEO of AMDIE , Ali Seddiki.
On the left side, stands proudly Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills.
What don’t we see in the photo?
The first major absent from the photo is the Minister of the Interior Abdelouafi Laftit, although a signatory of the convention between the government Moroccan And Gotion High Tech. Then Ms. Nadia Fettah, the Minister of Economy and Finance, also a signatory of the deal.
The two officials did not attend the working meeting which took place at the government headquarters. this explains their absence from the family photo.
The other major absentee is the Minister ofIndustry and Commerce, Ryad Mezzour. Was he engaged in another commitment more important than the signing of one of the largest PPP deals of his mandate? The liabilities of its relations with the architects of the deal Gotion, the Jazouli/Seddiki couple, does it persist?
Gigafactory “Gotion High Tech”
Chinese company Gotion High Tech will build Morocco’s first battery gigafactory for electric vehicles at a total cost of 12.8 billion dirhams ($1.3 billion).
The Moroccan government and Gotion High Tech have signed an investment agreement for the gigafactory which will have an initial capacity of 20 gigawatts per hour (GWh).
Gotion High Tech plans to increase the plant’s capacity to 100 GWh, with a possible investment of up to $6.5 billion.
Symbol interpretation exercise
1. National policy
This is the first big move for Aziz Akhannouch since his rise to power on September 8, 2021. It is also the first for Mochine Jazouli, who is now included in the list of ministers in charge of investment like Moulay Hafid Elalamy and Ahmed Chami, two machines of communication and influence.
Furthermore, the photo reveals the skills deficit suffered by the RNI and Istiqlal.
Indeed, the PAM is present in force through three young ministers, the RNI and Istiqlal only through their leaders. Knowing that Fouzi Lekjaa and Mohcine Jazouli have no political color, that Nadia Fettah and Ryad Mezzour feel too much, when the boss of the FRMF for the first and Mr. Investments for the second “are in Da house”.
2. Energy strategy
King Mohammed VI’s bet on solar power has put the Kingdom in the orbit of the global future of energy. Morocco is now identified as a power in the energy transition. Indeed, after solar, the Moroccan offer has been enriched by the production of electric batteries and green hydrogen.
Morocco’s geographical position close to Europe, its free trade agreements with key EU and US markets and its existing automotive industry make it attractive to Chinese electric vehicle battery manufacturers.
The $1.3 billion Gotion High-tech are only a milestone in an ecosystem of gigafactories in addition to the $2.2 billion of the other Chinese CNGR Advanced Material with Al-Mada. A cathode factory in Jorf Lasfar where the government has allocated 283 hectares to electric battery industries.
In May, Chinese automobile battery manufacturers Hailiang And Shinzoom announced plans to establish two separate factories in Tanger Techwhich would respectively produce key ingredients for EV batteries: copper and anodes.
A month earlier, the Moroccan government gave the green light to Chinese electric battery maker BTR New Material Group (835185.BJE) to build a factory near Tangier to produce key cathode components.
The automotive sector dominated Morocco’s industrial exports with $14 billion in 2023, up 27% from the previous year.
Morocco is home to production plants of automakers Stellantis and Renault with a combined annual production capacity of 700,000 cars as well as a cluster of local suppliers.
3. Geopolitics
Interregional competition between the United States and the European Union in the field of industrial policy will also have to contend with the current dominance of East Asia (Japan, Korea and especially China) in the production of components and intermediates necessary for the manufacture of electric vehicles (EV).
Indeed, China currently controls more than three-quarters of the world’s lithium-ion battery cell capacity and accounts for almost half of the world’s lithium carbonate and cobalt refining capacity.
Over the next decade, the global market for batteries (the most important component of an EV) is expected to grow nine times. Gigafactory projects planned in the United States and Europe will each meet only about a quarter of global manufacturing capacity by 2030.
Morocco plays a growing strategic role in the geopolitics of gigafactories thanks to its rich raw material resources and its advantageous geographical position.
As one of the world’s leading producers of phosphates, Morocco is key to the production of lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, an emerging alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries.
Additionally, the country has invested in modern industrial infrastructure and special economic zones to attract battery manufacturers and other players in the electric vehicle value chain. These initiatives aim to strengthen Morocco’s position as a key industrial hub, capable of meeting the growing demand for batteries in Europe and Africa.
By diversifying its partnerships and integrating further into global supply chains, Morocco can not only benefit from the transition to electric vehicles but also play a crucial role in reducing regional dependencies on sources of critical materials.
