The African Development Bank approved a €100 million ($114 million) loan to Gotion Power Morocco to finance Africa’s first integrated electric vehicle battery gigafactory in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Free Trade Zone.
According to an official statement from the Abidjan-based lender, AfDB will also mobilize €141 million in co-financing for the project, which requires an estimated initial investment of $1.3 billion.
Spearheaded by China-based Gotion High-Tech, the facility will initially produce 10 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of lithium iron phosphate battery cells annually before scaling capacity to 100 GWh.
The cathode-to-cell manufacturing complex is projected to create more than 600 direct green jobs in its initial phase and achieve a 70% local industrial integration rate over time.
Development finance leaders highlighted battery storage as an essential link to stabilize regional power grids, accelerate renewable energy adoption, and capture value from the global green technology transition.
The landmark funding positions Morocco as a primary electric mobility hub alongside regional auto leaders South Africa and Egypt, leveraging established local manufacturing ecosystems to supply burgeoning European export markets.
