- €100 million loan approved with up to €141 million additional funding expected from partners.
- First integrated battery manufacturing plant in Africa and the Middle East and North Africa region.
- Phase 1 capacity of 10 GWh with plans to scale to 100 GWh.
The African Development Bank Group has approved a €100 million loan to Gotion Power Morocco to support the development of an integrated cathode to cell lithium iron phosphate battery gigafactory in the Rabat Salé Kénitra Free Trade Zone.
The Bank will also mobilise up to €141 million in additional financing from development partners, acting as Mandated Lead Arranger under the New African Financial Architecture for Development.
Led by China based Gotion High Tech Co. Ltd., a global battery manufacturer listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, the project will establish the first fully integrated battery manufacturing facility in Africa and the Middle East and North Africa region. Phase 1 will deliver 10 GWh of battery cells and packs for electric vehicles, with long term plans to expand output to 100 GWh.
The investment supports Morocco’s strategy to position itself as a regional hub for electric mobility and green technology value chains.
Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth at the African Development Bank Group, said battery storage is critical to enabling Africa’s clean energy transition. He noted that a facility of this scale, powered largely by renewable energy, will support greater integration of solar and wind into national grids while delivering reliable and low carbon energy and creating green industrial jobs.
Achraf Tarsim, the Bank’s Country Manager for Morocco, said the project will strengthen the country’s industrial competitiveness and accelerate its emergence as a manufacturing hub for sustainable mobility industries. He added that it will also support the development of an African ecosystem for batteries and electric vehicles while encouraging local beneficiation of critical minerals.
The project is expected to create more than 600 direct jobs in its first phase and achieve a local industrial integration rate of 70%, contributing to skills development and the growth of domestic industrial capacity.
Aligned with the African Development Bank Group’s strategic priorities, the initiative supports resilient infrastructure, industrialisation, value addition to natural resources, and regional integration. It is also set to strengthen Africa’s position in global clean energy and electric mobility value chains.
Gotion High Tech is a global innovator in lithium-ion battery technologies and energy storage solutions, with operations across multiple continents focused on research, manufacturing, and commercialisation of electric vehicle batteries and next generation energy systems.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
