The United States is supporting a major Moroccan initiative aimed at reducing global dependence on China for essential semiconductor materials, Bloomberg reported on Monday. Washington's International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has granted $4.75 million to Morocco's Sondiale SA to fund early-stage development work for an $870 million polysilicon plant planned in Tan-Tan, southern Morocco. The project seeks to manufacture high-purity polysilicon, a material crucial for microchips and solar panels, and currently dominated by China, which produces over 90% of global supply. According to a DFC official cited by Bloomberg, a U.S. prime contractor will oversee development of the Moroccan facility, which is intended to supply the U.S. and allied markets. Sondiale's executive director, Tayeb Amegroud, said the company is targeting annual production of 30,000 tons of polysilicon, about 1% of current global output, and aims to raise $800 million in equity and loans from local and international investors. Up to $550 million could eventually come from the DFC, though the agency did not comment on future investments. «Morocco's partners want to diversify the global supply chain», Amegroud told Bloomberg, noting that the plant will run primarily on clean energy and focus on serving chip manufacturers. The project plans a power-purchase agreement ensuring 90% renewable electricity, with the remaining 10% supplied by the national utility ONEE. The government has already committed $100 million to support Sondiale, an affiliate of Tangier-based GreenPower Morocco (GPM). The plant is expected to open in late 2029.
