MOrocco is set to become a key player in the global clean energy transition following an agreement with China’s Goshon High-Tech to build Africa’s first battery gigafactory.
Supporting an investment of US$6.5 billion, the project will transform the North African kingdom into a leading supplier of electric vehicle (EV) batteries and renewable energy storage, strengthening its role as a bridge between Africa, Europe and Asia in a burgeoning green economy.
The facility is located in Kenitra, northwestern Morocco, and is strategically located near the country’s automotive hub where Renault and Stellantis already have operations. Construction is underway and production is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026. The first phase of the factory will produce 20GWh of electricity per year, capable of powering hundreds of thousands of EVs. At full scale, the capacity could reach 100GWh, making Morocco one of the world’s top battery producers.
Unlike many assembly-only factories, the Gigafactory will manufacture critical electrode materials such as cathodes and anodes, ensuring vertical integration. This will reduce Morocco’s import dependence, strengthen its supply chain security and strengthen its competitiveness in global markets. The US$1.3 billion initial phase alone is expected to create 17,000 direct and indirect jobs, and the five development phases will ultimately directly employ more than 10,000 workers.
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economic benefit
Gothion’s Moroccan director Khalid Karam said earthworks have been completed and construction is accelerating. “This is not just a matter of production capacity,” he says. “It is about building an entire value chain in Morocco that serves Europe, Africa and beyond.”
For Morocco, the project marks a decisive shift from traditional industries such as agriculture and textiles to high-tech manufacturing. The automotive sector already leads the country’s exports, generating a record US$15.7 billion in 2024, surpassing China, Japan and India to become the EU’s largest car supplier. As Europe prepares to ban new fossil fuel vehicles by 2035, Morocco is uniquely positioned to supply batteries to the European market. Approximately 85% of the factory’s production will be exported to the EU, providing the EU with a reliable and geographically close alternative to Asian supply chains.
Beyond Europe, the plant will also target renewable energy storage markets in Africa and the Middle East, which have huge solar power potential with more than 300 sunny days a year. The initiative emphasizes that China is expanding its industrial footprint in Africa and combining infrastructure and industrial investments to form a global clean energy supply chain. Alongside Gotion, other Chinese companies. BTR, CNGR, Hailiang and Shinzoom are also investing in Morocco’s battery sector, strengthening its position as North Africa’s green technology hub.
This project has wider significance for the entire continent. By hosting Africa’s first mega-factory, Morocco is demonstrating how countries can move beyond being mere exporters of raw minerals to manufacturers of advanced technology. If this model is replicated in resource-rich countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (cobalt), Zambia (copper) and Zimbabwe (lithium), it could help Africa extract far more value from its natural wealth.
After all, Morocco’s partnership with China represents both economic opportunity and geopolitical strategy. This underlines Morocco’s ambition to act as a gateway to Europe, aligning with global efforts to accelerate the energy transition. As demand for EVs and renewable energy storage grows, Kenitra’s Gigafactory could serve as a blueprint for Africa’s industrial future, demonstrating how international cooperation can foster job creation, technology transfer and long-term sustainable growth.
