Casablanca – Morocco’s copper potential is drawing growing international attention, with Critical Mineral Resources PLC (CMR), a London-listed company, accelerating development of its Agadir Melloul project. Located about 240 kilometers east of Agadir in the Agadir-Ida-Ou-Tanane province, the initiative focuses on sediment-hosted copper and silver and is now moving from exploration into early-stage development.
Expanding permit portfolio and regional presence
CMR has secured a dominant position in the Agadir Melloul region. The project currently includes six granted permits held through the joint venture entity AgaMel Minerals SARL, as well as exclusive technical rights to six more. In total, the area under control and exclusivity covers more than 150 square kilometers, of which over 100 square kilometers are considered geologically favorable for copper mineralization.
This extensive land package provides the company with room to expand exploration and pursue what it describes as a “strategic resource” strategy. The ambition is not only to establish a small-scale open-pit mine in the near term but also to evaluate whether the discovery can evolve into a large regional project comparable to Morocco’s Tizert copper deposit further west.
Encouraging early results
Recent trenching, geological mapping, and geochemical sampling have provided strong initial results. Examples include:
- 27 meters of mineralization grading 2.9% copper and 25 g/t silver
- 7 meters at 3.1% copper and 45 g/t silver
- Copper grades up to 3.14% over short intervals, with silver values surpassing 60 g/t in some areas
Laboratory tests, conducted by Afrilab in Marrakech, confirmed positive metallurgical characteristics. Recovery rates reached 80% for copper and 61% for silver, producing a concentrate containing 26–27% copper and around 72 g/t silver.
Based on this work, CMR has announced an initial exploration target of 150,000 to 200,000 tons of contained copper, with an average equivalent grade of 1.2% CuEq.
Drilling and development plans
To validate these estimates, the company will launch a 10,000-meter diamond drilling program in the coming weeks. The goal is to establish a resource compliant with international standards such as NI 43-101 or JORC, which would serve as the foundation for investment decisions and the transition toward mine construction.
Alongside drilling, an environmental impact study and a mining permit application were submitted to Moroccan authorities earlier in 2025. If successful, these steps could pave the way for the first production phase.
The initial mine plan envisions an open-pit operation with a processing capacity of 750 to 1,000 tons per day, supported by favorable site conditions, including accessible roads and proximity to the national power grid.
Joint venture and ownership structure
The Agadir Melloul project is operated through AgaMel Minerals SARL, a joint venture between CMR and Morocco-based Coppernicus Mining Company (CMC). Under the current agreement, CMR holds 10% of the joint venture, but the company has structured a staged earn-in mechanism allowing it to increase its stake up to 60%.
The terms of this progressive ownership include:
- An initial contribution of $100,000
- Full funding of the 10,000-meter drilling program
- Additional equity increases tied to feasibility studies, environmental assessments, and mine construction funding (raising ownership to 50%)
- An optional payment of $1.2 million, which would bring CMR’s stake to the maximum 60%
The minimum investment commitment under the agreement is $900,000. A joint management committee of four directors oversees the venture, with equal representation from CMR and CMC.
Toward a regional discovery
Exploration at Agadir Melloul is currently focused on the northern zone of the project. However, geological mapping suggests that the mineralized system could extend much further. Early work indicates the potential for 12 kilometers of mineralized strike length, which, if confirmed, could transform the project into a discovery of regional significance.
With the six additional permits under exclusivity still in due diligence, CMR’s total project footprint could surpass 150 km², positioning the company to explore for extensions and satellite deposits.
Morocco’s growing role in critical minerals
Morocco has long been recognized for its phosphate wealth, but copper and silver are increasingly drawing investment interest. Projects such as Agadir Melloul highlight the country’s role as an emerging hub for critical minerals needed in global energy transition supply chains.
For CMR, the move into development marks a turning point. After two years of systematic exploration, the company is now positioning itself as a developer with a clear path toward production. Its stated ambition is to transform Agadir Melloul into a producing asset while testing the potential for a larger-scale regional project.
As the drilling program begins and feasibility work advances, the coming months are expected to be decisive in confirming the size and economic viability of what could become one of Morocco’s most important new copper developments.
