Chinese Government provides MAD 41.4 million grant for Souss-Massa Geochemical Mapping Project

Project narrative

According to an online database of development projects (‘Carte des Projets de Développement au Maroc’) maintained by the Budget Directorate of the Government of Morocco’s Ministry of Economy Finance, the Chinese Government committed MAD 41.4 million of grant funding for the Souss-Massa Geochemical Mapping Project in 2015. This project involved the creation of a set of geochemical maps for the Souss-Massa region. The ultimate aim of the project was to facilitate the continued sale of Moroccan phosphate fertilizers to China and explore Morocco’s subsoil for other mining resources. Since 1958, Morocco has sold phosphate fertilizers to Sinochem, the leading producer and distributor of fertilizers in China. China Geo-Engineering Corporation International Ltd. (CGCINT) was the contractor responsible for project implementation. On May 12, 2015, the Chinese Ambassador to Morocco, Sun Shuzhong, and the Moroccan Minister of Energy, Mining, Water Conservancy and Environment, Abdullakad Amara, signed a handover certificate for the completion of the Souss-Massa Geochemical Mapping Project. However, according to the Government of Morocco’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Chinese Government had disbursed only MAD 4.83 million of grant funding in support of this project as of March 28, 2018.