Morocco to Reopen Historic Rif Mines, Reviving Iron Ore Production After 40 Years

Exploitation of these mines ceased in 1984. Morocco wants to restart activity in these mines to compete with the Algerian mines of Gara Djebilet, reports El Debate, specifying that more than 35 million tons of iron can be extracted there. These mines of the Rif date back to the Spanish presence in Morocco in the 20th century and were the largest source of wealth for the kingdom at that time.

The mines of the Rif had been exploited by Spanish, German and French companies. The mining operations required railways to transport the ores to the port of Melilla where a large loading dock was completed in 1926 so that the wagons could unload directly onto the ships. During those years, the Melilla region was dominated by El Roghi who had an important armed group and the mining companies were forced to contract with him to ensure the security of the exploited mines. The inhabitants who felt that they should be paid for the exploitation of these mines on their territory rebelled and attacked the construction of the railway, killing workers and soldiers.

The Spaniards entered Moroccan territory to restore order. Thus began the war of 1909 which lasted until 1913. Afterwards, several companies obtained concessions for the exploitation of the mines. The most important was the Spanish Mining Company of the Rif (CEMR), which built a large base in Iksane, in the Guelaya region, where Spanish miners and the merchants who served them lived. There was also the North African Company in which French capital participated, as well as the Setolazar anonymous company and La Alicantina. Ultimately, the CCRE, which had the monopoly on transporting the mines to the port, remained the only mining company.

The deposits were rich and provided iron to the combatants of the Civil War and World War II. More than seven thousand people worked there and extracted more than forty million tons of ore. After Morocco’s independence in 1956, the CCRE continued operations until 1968, before the creation of the Société d’Exploitation des Mines du Rif (SEFERIF) for ore extraction and the Société Anonyme Expéditions et Transports du Rif for transport to the port of Melilla. The mines closed in 1984 and the facilities were gradually dismantled. With this reopening, the ores will be transported to the port of Beni Ensar in order to develop the province of Nador.