Rabat – British mining company Emmerson Plc filed a formal request for arbitration on Thursday, May 1, before the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), claiming Morocco expropriated its potash project in Khemisset.
Potash refers to various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium.
The firm values the halted project at $2.2 billion and seeks full reimbursement, accusing Moroccan authorities of breaching a bilateral investment agreement with the United Kingdom.
The legal step follows months of public tension between the company and Moroccan institutions, particularly after the Regional Unified Investment Commission (CRUI) raised environmental concerns.
The commission issued an unfavorable opinion on the project’s environmental impact, noting its high water consumption, a key factor in a country facing increasing pressure on natural resources.
Despite this, Emmerson insists the decision amounts to an unlawful seizure of its investment.
The firm said it had explored domestic remedies, but its appeal to the regional governor was dismissed as inadmissible.
In preparation for the arbitration, Emmerson secured $11.2 million in funding earlier this year.
The firm explained that the funds would cover arbitration-related costs and a significant portion of its administrative expenses. A December fundraising round also brought in £850,000, intended to support legal proceedings and compensate key witnesses in the case.
The London-based firm is working with Boies Schiller Flexner (BSF), a law firm known for representing clients in high-profile international disputes. The tribunal has yet to be fully formed, but the proceedings are expected to extend over two years.
Emmerson also pointed to support from a group of investors who previously backed GreenX in a case against Poland. The firm described these investors as experienced in arbitration and confident in the strength of Emmerson’s legal position.
So far, Moroccan authorities have not commented publicly on Emmerson’s allegations or the ICSID filing.
