Nornickel is exploring port investments in Morocco as part of a strategy to diversify its export routes and reduce its reliance on European ports.

Russian mining giant Nornickel, a global leader in the production of nickel and precious metals, is considering investing in port infrastructure in Morocco as part of a broader strategy to diversify its export routes and reduce its dependence on major European ports.

According to Nornickel’s president, Vladimir Potanine, quoted by Russian public broadcaster Rossiya 24, Morocco is among the territories under consideration for the development of maritime terminals and logistics platforms designed to facilitate the transit and processing of its output to global markets.

The Kingdom is home to deep-water ports such as Tangier Med, already recognised as strategic hubs linking the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. This geographic position, combined with modern port infrastructure, makes Morocco a potentially attractive partner for Nornickel, which is seeking to secure its exports amid logistical uncertainties and geopolitical tensions affecting European trade routes.

The initiative illustrates the Russian group’s determination to adapt its global supply chain by diversifying its options and establishing a presence in strategic locations outside Europe, in order to better respond to international demand and market volatility.

The project remains at an exploratory stage and no concrete investment has yet been officially announced. It nonetheless reflects the growing interest of certain multinational companies in Morocco as a regional logistics platform.

By Houda Riffi