After almost four decades of shutdown, Morocco is preparing to reactivate the exploitation of the iron mines located near Nador. To this end, the Société d’exploitation des mines du Rif, a subsidiary of the National Hydrocarbons and Mines Office (ONYHM), has just launched an international call for tenders for the total acquisition of iron deposits.
The deadline for receipt of tenders is set for November 1, 2022. The opening of bids in public session is scheduled for November 3, at ONHYM headquarters in Rabat. For interested investors, a site visit will be organized during the week of October 10, 2022. From 1908 to 1984, the iron deposits were exploited by the Spanish Company of Rif Mines.
This international call for tenders comes two months after the official announcement by the Algerian government of the launch of iron production from the Ghar Djebilet mine (or Gara Djebilet), located west of Tindouf. A project entrusted to a Chinese company.
An operation which should have been granted to a mixed Moroccan-Algerian company, in accordance with the Moroccan-Algerian declaration made in Rabat on June 15, 1972 relating to the drawing of the borders, published by the Official newspaper of the Republic of Algeria in its edition of June 15, 1973.
The reactivation of the iron mine in Nador should allow the creation of jobs in a region where economic activity revolves around the smuggling of products originating from Melilla.
The iron deposits of Nador are located just 25 km from the Beni Nsar port.