The role of the state in the development of the mining industry in Morocco under the French Protectorate (1912-1956)
During the Protectorate period (1912-1956), the vast majority of Moroccan mines were privately owned. The investors were mainly French. This general picture is in agreement with the fact that Morocco was under the domination of France and consequently a privileged field for French investors. However two major events do not fit into the above description. The first occurred in 1921 : the creation of the Office ChĂ©rifien des Phosphates, a public company which had the monopoly of the exploration and the exploitation of Moroccan phosphate. The second occurred in 1928 : the creation of the Bureau de Recherches et de Participations MiniĂšres, a public body which acquired one third of the only Moroccan coal mine, and obtained afterwards shares of several mines and directed oil exploration in Morocco. In order to integrate these two events into the global development of the Moroccan mining industry it will be shown that these authoritarian measures on the part of the State were taken because it was necessary to find a way of bypassing the international constraints bearing on Morocco at the beginning of the Protectorate period. European countries did not object to French domination over Morocco as long as French investments
David, Laurent
Industrial policy ; Mineral industries ; History ; Colonies ; Administration ; Economic conditions ; Morocco ; 20th century ; France
The role of the state in the development of the mining industry in Morocco under the French Protectorate (1912-1956). During the Protectorate period (1912-1956), the vast majority of Moroccan mines were privately owned. The investors were mainly French. This general picture is in agreement with the fact that Morocco was under the domination of France and consequently a privileged field for French investors. However two major events do not fit into the above description. The first occurred in 1921 : the creation of the Office ChĂ©rifien des Phosphates, a public company which had the monopoly of the exploration and the exploitation of Moroccan phosphate. The second occurred in 1928 : the creation of the Bureau de Recherches et de Participations MiniĂšres, a public body which acquired one third of the only Moroccan coal mine, and obtained afterwards shares of several mines and directed oil exploration in Morocco. In order to integrate these two events into the global development of the Moroccan mining industry it will be shown that these authoritarian measures on the part of the State were taken because it was necessary to find a way of bypassing the international constraints bearing on Morocco at the beginning of the Protectorate period. European countries did not object to French domination over Morocco as long as French investments
role_state development mining_industry morocco french protectorate protectorate period vast_majority mine privately own investor mainly french general_picture agreement fact morocco domination france consequently privilege field french investor however two_major event fit description first occurred creation office des public company monopoly exploration exploitation phosphate second occurred creation public body acquire third coal mine obtain afterwards share several mine direct oil exploration morocco order integrate_two event global development mining_industry show authoritarian measure part state take necessary way international constraint bear morocco begin protectorate period european_country object french domination morocco long french investment