Morocco is taking a step into one of the world’s most strategically important mineral markets at a time when governments and manufacturers are scrambling to reduce their dependence on China.
London-listed Xtract Resources has secured a 10-year renewable mining licence for its Amghas antimony project in northwest Morocco, clearing the way for production of a metal that has become increasingly important to global supply chains, defence industries and advanced manufacturing.
The approval comes amid growing concerns over the concentration of antimony supply in a handful of countries, particularly China, which remains the dominant player in the global market.
While antimony rarely attracts the attention given to lithium, copper or cobalt, it has become one of the minerals attracting increasing interest from policymakers in Washington, Brussels and other capitals because of its role in military equipment, batteries, semiconductors, solar technologies and flame-retardant materials.
Why antimony suddenly matters
