• Gotion to build $5.6B battery gigafactory in Kenitra, Morocco

• Plant to produce 100 GWh annually, powering 2M EVs

• Project supports Morocco’s energy shift amid coal dependency

Chinese group Gotion High-Tech is set to invest $5.6 billion in a new battery gigafactory in Kenitra, Morocco. The facility is scheduled to begin operations in the third quarter of 2026, according to reports on Monday, September 15.

The factory is expected to produce up to 100 gigawatt-hours of batteries annually, enough to power nearly two million electric vehicles, based on International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates.

Positioned as a key part of Morocco's energy transition policy, the plant will be built in a country still heavily reliant on coal. In 2023, coal-fired power accounted for nearly two-thirds of the country’s electricity, with about 28 out of a total 43 terawatt-hours of electricity coming from that source, according to the German-Moroccan Energy Partnership.

The factory aims to supply automakers already operating in Morocco, such as Renault and Stellantis, with a focus on serving the European and Middle Eastern markets. The vertically integrated facility will also produce the necessary anodes and cathodes for the batteries.

According to the IEA, lithium-ion battery production is highly energy-intensive, requiring 50 to 65 kilowatt-hours of electricity for every kilowatt-hour of battery produced. At full capacity, the factory's power consumption could amount to several terawatt-hours, a significant portion of the national output. This expected consumption highlights a potential challenge in a country where the electricity mix is dominated by coal and natural gas.

Morocco has long sought to strengthen its position in electric mobility and clean technologies. In 2023, renewable sources like wind, solar, and hydropower made up an estimated 37% to 40% of the country's electricity generation, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency and the Ministry of Energy Transition.

With more than $14 billion in automotive exports in 2023, according to the Exchange Office, Morocco is solidifying its role as an industrial hub for Europe. The new battery gigafactory in Kenitra will further this dynamic and position the country as a key player in the global battery race. This comes as the European Battery Regulation (EU 2023/1542), which took effect in August 2023, imposed sustainability criteria that became fully applicable in August 2025.

Abdel-Latif Boureima