Agadir 24 | Agadir24
The conflict rages between Morocco and Spain over the Tropic Seamount, located deep in the Atlantic Ocean, specifically southwest of the Canary Islands.
This natural treasure contains enormous mineral wealth, including tellurium and cobalt, which are essential elements in the renewable energy industry and modern technology.
As for tellurium, it is an essential element in the manufacture of solar panels and electronic technology, and it has also become one of the vital minerals that can shape the future of clean energy, in the era of transition to renewable energy.
As for cobalt, it is considered, along with a group of rare earth elements contained in this mountain, one of the basic components for the manufacture of batteries and electric car technology.
The competition over Mount Tropic began in 2014, when Spain submitted a request to the United Nations to expand the boundaries of its continental shelf to include this mountain, while Morocco responded in 2020 by announcing its intention to expand its territorial waters to include areas close to Tropic, which raised concern among the Spanish government.
The Tropic Mountain represents a tremendous opportunity for Morocco and Spain to benefit from the technological revolution in the field of renewable energy, as both countries can play a leading role in achieving the goals of the “2030 Agenda” for renewable energy, which makes the competition for possession of this natural resource not just an issue of maritime borders, but Also a strategic issue related to the green economy and future technology.
As for Spain, it seeks to benefit from these riches while ensuring the sustainability of resources and protecting the environment, while Morocco considers this mountain a gateway to improving its position in the green economy and promoting sustainable development goals.
Winning this vital resource would determine the features of the green economy in the region, in addition to having a significant impact on diplomatic relations between the two countries. However, Morocco and Spain engaged in a series of negotiations in an attempt to reach an agreement that satisfies both parties and protects their interests.
It should be noted that the Tropic Sea Mountain was formed in the Cretaceous period as a result of a series of volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. It is located at a depth ranging between 1,000 and 4,000 meters below sea level, and extends over a vast area in the region between the Canary Islands and the Moroccan desert, making it a strategic point in Heart of the Atlantic Ocean.
