US Sends Critical Minerals Supply Chain Chief to Morocco
Two US officials responsible for critical minerals and industrial project financing will speak in Marrakech on Wednesday. Washington will present its reshoring strategy, followed by a discussion on financing African projects.
The Giga Africa event, dedicated to batteries and critical minerals, will be held on 29 and 30 September in Marrakech. Organized by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, the event brings together industry leaders, investors and public officials.
On Wednesday at 11:05 a.m., Widad Whitman is scheduled to present the US strategy. The Giga Africa program identifies her as head of supply chain security at the US Department of Energy’s Office of Critical Minerals, Materials, and Industry.
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The title of her presentation leaves little doubt about its aim: “How the United States Is Leading the Way in Reshoring and Financing Mining and Midstream Projects.”
The reshoring in question is primarily aimed at the United States. On 20 August, the US Department of Energy awarded $500 million to seven projects in the United States involving critical minerals processing, battery manufacturing and recycling, according to its official announcement.
Washington is seeking to bring back industrial stages that take place between the extraction of a mineral and the manufacture of a battery: refining, chemical processing, cathode materials and recycling.
US financing official to speak immediately afterward
The US program will continue at 11:25 a.m. with Ciani Smith, director of structured finance and projects at the US International Development Finance Corporation. She will take part in a panel discussion on the investment needed for African battery and critical minerals projects.
Her presence is of direct interest to industry: the DFC is the US public agency able to mobilize loans, guarantees and investments to support strategic projects in developing countries.
Morocco already has an industrial supply chain under development. In Kenitra, Gotion and PowerCo, a Volkswagen subsidiary, are preparing a plant for LFP cathode materials with capacity of up to 100,000 tonnes a year. PowerCo is to take a 49% stake in the Moroccan company, while Gotion will retain control.
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The Marrakech program also includes a dedicated presentation on phosphate and cobalt, two key battery raw materials. Another session will focus on creating a processing corridor aligned with Western interests from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
