Morocco is moving forward with the exploration of its critical mineral resources. Along the Atlantic coast, between Tan-Tan and Tarfaya, the TitanBeach project has entered a new phase with the granting of a 16 km² mining concession and the preparation of a pilot plant to process titanium-bearing sands.
The project is led by Canadian company Steadright Critical Minerals, through its Moroccan subsidiary NSM Capital. The partners now aim to test mineral processing methods before considering a larger-scale industrial development.
TitanBeach Tan-Tan: a 16 km² mining concession
The TitanBeach project covers an exploration area of around 192 km². On 12 August 2026, the Moroccan authorities granted a mining licence for a 16 km² zone.
According to Steadright, this authorization is the first of its kind in Morocco for the exploitation of heavy mineral sands along the Atlantic coastline.
The deposit targets black sands containing various heavy minerals, including ilmenite, rutile, titanomagnetite, magnetite and leucoxene. Exploration work carried out in 2025 reported grades reaching up to 14.9% titanium dioxide (TiO₂) in some samples.
A pilot plant to test ore processing
Following the granting of the concession, the partners accelerated preparations for the next stage.
NSM Capital and Moroccan company Homme Construction set up a joint structure called Shan Tang Mining. This entity then signed a framework agreement with a state-owned engineering and construction group to prepare and operate a pilot plant on site.
This facility is intended in particular to test enrichment and processing methods for the mineralized sands.
For now, the project therefore remains in a validation phase. Any move towards larger-scale industrial operations will depend largely on the results obtained from the pilot unit.
An announced investment of 190 million dirhams
From a financial standpoint, the project also provides for a significant initial budget.
Speaking to TelQuel, L. Jouak, head of NSM Capital, mentioned an investment of around 190 million dirhams for the first year. He also indicated that Chinese group China National Building Material (CNBM) is expected to provide the investment associated with the project.
This budget is intended to support the first stages of developing the site and preparing the infrastructure needed to process the ore.
However, this amount should be presented as an estimate communicated by the project sponsors, and not as funding that has already been fully disbursed.
Project seeks to prioritize local processing
One of the key objectives of TitanBeach is to process the ore in Morocco.
L. Jouak told TelQuel that the promoters do not intend to simply extract the sands and export them. Their ambition is to build an industrial capacity that would make it possible to produce more processed material locally.
This approach could enable Morocco to capture more added value from its mineral resources.
For the time being, however, the exact nature of the products that will come out of the future facility will depend on the results of the pilot phase and the technical options chosen.
Why titanium attracts industry players
Titanium and the minerals used to produce it are playing an increasingly important role in industrial supply chains.
The metal stands out for its light weight, mechanical strength and high resistance to corrosion. These properties explain its use in several sectors, including aerospace, defence, medical applications and various industrial uses.
Titanium dioxide also has major industrial uses, particularly as a white pigment.
The United States, Canada and the European Union classify titanium among minerals considered critical or strategic, which strengthens the interest in diversifying supply chains.
Tan-Tan could benefit from project spin-offs
The project also carries economic stakes for the local area.
According to L. Jouak, the first phase could generate between 100 and 150 direct jobs, while indirect benefits could affect a much larger number of people. These figures remain estimates communicated by the project leaders.
In the coming weeks, the promoters are expected to continue studies, prepare infrastructure and finalize the technical details of the pilot plant.
If the tests confirm the viability of the process, TitanBeach could then move on to a more extensive industrial phase.
TitanBeach Tan-Tan: a new step for critical minerals in Morocco
With its 16 km² concession, its pilot plant in preparation and an initial investment announced at around 190 million dirhams, TitanBeach Tan-Tan is entering a more concrete phase.
The project nevertheless remains at a development stage. The performance of the pilot plant will be crucial to assessing the potential for large-scale industrial mining.
For Morocco, the challenge goes beyond simply extracting ore: it is also about determining to what extent this resource can be processed locally and integrated into new industrial value chains linked to critical minerals.
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