Morocco is set to have a new cathode material facility in Kenitra, which is part of a broader plan to develop a European battery supply chain — presenting opportunities for explorers focused on a range of minerals.
Last week, Gotion High-tech (SZSE:002074) and Volkswagen Group (ETR:VOW3) announced a plan to jointly invest about €3.22 billion ($5.18 billion). Those funds will go towards battery and materials production projects in Europe and North Africa.
Under the plan, Gotion will invest €1.6 billion, while Volkswagen’s PowerCo will invest around €1.62 billion across a number of stages.
In Morocco, the joint venture (JV) will see the establishment of a new production facility to produce cathode material for lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries. The goal is to diversify sources of supply for key cathode active materials.
Morocco emerges as an antimony hub
Although antimony is not a universal or required element for all battery cathodes, it is specifically needed or used as a cathode material in certain specialised and emerging battery technologies.
Over 60% of the world’s antimony ore comes from China and Russia, while China also processes 85% of the world’s antimony.
As Western nations seek to diversify supply chains away from China, Morocco is emerging as a strategic global hub for antimony exploration and mining.
Zeus Resources’ (ASX:ZEU) flagship Casablanca Antimony Project is located in central Morocco, covering a combined area of 79km². Due to the project’s close proximity to Europe, it is considered ideal for supply chain resilience and critical mineral demand.
There are multiple historical and recent artisanal mine workings within the project, which provide immediate exploration targets and geological validation. Rock chip samples have also returned antimony results ranging from 7.8–46.52% across 20 primary samples.
The company is leveraging local expertise at Casablanca through a partnership with Ashgill Australia. Ashgill is providing a local geological team to support exploration at Casablanca, drawing on its deep expertise in North African stratigraphy and mineral systems.
LFP batteries on the rise
The second project in the Gotion-PowerCo JV is located in Spain. Volkswagen’s PowerCo gigafactory in Valencia will be transitioned into a JV, with PowerCo holding a 51% stake, while Gotion gains the remaining 49%.
Under the plan, the JV partners will develop the site into a European production hub for unified cells based on LFP technology.
Meanwhile in the Slovak Republic, the Gotion cell factory will also be transferred into a JV, with Gotion holding a 51% stake and PowerCo holding the remainder. The JV will focus on LFP cells for electric vehicle applications and battery energy storage systems.
LFP batteries are competitive in terms of costs, long service life, and robustness, making them ideal for electric mobility. Volkswagen forecasts that demand in Europe will grow considerably in the coming years, rising from about 10% today to between 40–60% by 2030.
The new JVs will see expansion of production of LFP battery cells and cathode active material across three sites.
LFP batteries require lithium, iron, phosphate, and graphite. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global LFP battery market was valued at US$23.97 billion in 2025 and is forecast to grow from US$30.36 billion in 2026 to US$77.07 billion by 2034.
Europe’s LFP battery market alone reached US$4.08 billion in 2025 and is estimated to grow to US$5.14 billion in 2026.
The rise in Europe’s LFP battery production provides opportunities for explorers and developers around the world, such as Zeus, to help meet demand for the minerals needed to bring these LFP batteries to market.
Libra targets rising LFP battery demand
Libra Energy Materials (CSE:LIBR) is well positioned to contribute to the rise of LFP batteries through its portfolio of lithium and graphite projects in Brazil and Canada.
In Brazil, the company owns the Bahia graphite portfolio, which is divided into two main projects — Limeira and Jordania — as well as two secondary projects named Cabeças and Bonfim. The area presents a complex tectonic history involving multiple subduction events with over 80 years of continued graphite production.
In Canada, the company also executed an earn-in agreement with KoBold Metals in 2024, to jointly explore the Flanders South, Flanders North, and SBC lithium projects in Ontario.
Libra Energy also recently acquired two projects in Québec, Canada — Cisco West and Obamska. Around C$725,000 ($729,082) was raised last week, which will support the company in advancing lithium exploration across both of these projects.
As previously reported, CEO Koby Kushner told this news service that with the addition of rare earths, gallium, and graphite, Libra is well diversified across the battery metals, with a deliberately strong exposure to lithium.
“Lithium has amazing fundamentals right now. It’s volatile, but that presents new opportunities for acquisitions,” Kushner says.
“It took about 75 years for the lithium market to get to 1 million tonnes, and now it’s growing at such a fast rate, it’s around 20% a year from now until 2040.
“So the next million tonnes is taking less than five years to achieve.”
Zeus Resources and Libra Energy Materials are only two of many companies able to contribute to the rise of LFP batteries and supply the minerals needed to support Europe’s developing battery supply chain.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Main image: Zeus Resources
