Managem Revives Ancient Copper Mine as Global Prices Soar

The Moroccan mining group Managem is reviving a medieval-era copper mine in Bouskour, Jbel Saghro massif east of Ouarzazate. The site was first worked during the medieval period and saw intermittent activity from the late 1940s through 1977 before being closed due to falling copper prices.

Managem plans to bring the new copper deposit into production by 2029, with estimated resources at Bouskour totaling 43.3 million tons grading 0.88 percent copper and 9 grams per ton silver. The company's latest disclosures indicate that the site will eventually produce around 80,000 tons of copper concentrate.

The move follows Managem's launch of Tizert in 2025, currently Morocco's largest copper mine, which is expected to reach between 95,000 and 110,000 tons of copper concentrate in 2026. Copper prices have climbed to between $12,000 and $14,000 a tonne in 2026, driven partly by demand tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers.

The International Energy Agency now projects a supply shortfall of around 25 percent in the global copper market by 2035, which Managem is positioning itself to help meet. The company plans to finalize geological certification of the Bouskour resource this year before moving to feasibility studies and construction.