Morocco Calls for Africa-Centered ESG Mining Framework

Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali

Nouakchott, Mauritania — Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, has called for the creation of a mining framework tailored specifically to Africa—one that incorporates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. Her remarks were delivered by Ahmed Bouzid, Director General of Energy and Mineral Production, during a ministerial panel at the “Mauritanid” Energy and Mining Conference.

Benali emphasized the importance of developing a framework that reflects Africa’s unique challenges and realities, rather than relying on models borrowed from other regions. She expressed optimism that this Africa-specific ESG framework will be formally adopted by mining ministers at the upcoming Marrakech Mining Conference in November.

The proposed framework aims to support African nations and mining companies in responsibly financing and managing the extraction, transportation, and processing of natural resources. According to Benali, this approach would ensure that mining activities contribute meaningfully to sustainable development across the continent.
She also highlighted Morocco’s leadership in this space, citing the launch of the “Origin–Transit–Certification” (OTC) initiative. This program, backed by ESG standards and endorsed by African mining ministers, seeks to address the complexities of rare mineral extraction and processing in Africa.