Assahafa.com
Morocco has successfully realized its vision of positioning itself as a mining “green corridor” connecting West Africa to the rest of the world, underlined the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, in an interview with U.S. TV channel CNBC.
“Morocco has been pushing for being the only corridor link in West Africa to the world for green metals and minerals, and we are happy to see now the concretization of this vision”, the minister said in this interview granted to the U.S. channel on the sidelines of her participation in the 5th International Meeting of Ministers in charge of Mining Affairs in Riyadh.
Referring to the issues discussed during this gathering, Leila Benali mentioned the prospects for strengthening cooperation between Arab countries, particularly in the area of data collection and joint investments in strategic metals and minerals, noting that a myriad of initiatives have been proposed in this regard.
On a more global level, the forum also focused on the “emerging and increasing” needs in the areas of Artificial Intelligence data centers, but also in more traditional sectors such as heating and air conditioning, she added.
The minister also mentioned Morocco’s willingness to engage in a broader cooperation framework that is consistent with the Marrakech Declaration adopted at the 2nd International Mining Congress held last December in Marrakech, as well as with the common African framework for mining governance, which integrates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions.
In this respect, Benali stated that more than 30 African countries now adhere to the ESG Framework, while highlighting the importance of this initiative in unlocking Africa’s potential and strengthening its position, particularly in the critical minerals value chain.
The African governance framework, stemming from the Marrakech Declaration, presents a set of fundamental principles aimed at facilitating access to sustainable financing for mineral extraction and processing projects, strengthening justice and transparency in the management of natural resources, supporting cooperation between African countries and financial institutions, and promoting mineral production that adheres to human rights and environmental standards.
The 5th International Meeting of Ministers in charge of Mining Affairs, held within the framework of the 5th International Mining Conference (January 13-15), serves as an international platform bringing together high-ranking government officials from over 100 countries, as well as representatives from international organizations, NGOs, professional associations, and leading figures in the global mining sector.
Source: map
