London‑listed junior miner Xtract Resources has secured a mining permit from Moroccan authorities for its Amghas antimony project, paving the way for the transition from exploration to full-scale development of the deposit in the country’s southeast.
The permit, issued early June, marks a significant milestone for the AIM‑traded company, allowing it to move forward with the industrial exploitation of the site, the company said.
The Amghas project is reported to contain ore grades above the global average of the mineral, key to battery making. This\ positions the project as a potentially competitive new source of the critical mineral.
Antimony, a metalloid prized for its flame‑retardant properties, is widely used in the production of lead‑acid batteries, ammunition, semiconductors and energy storage technologies.
Global supply of the material is heavily concentrated, with China accounting for more than half of extraction and the vast majority of refining capacity. Export restrictions imposed by Beijing since 2016 have heightened concerns over supply security, driving interest in alternative sources.