Safran Group and Moroccan authorities launched construction of a major aircraft-engine manufacturing and maintenance complex in Nouaceur, near Casablanca, marking a major step in Morocco’s drive to become an aerospace production hub. The French aerospace supplier said the project, a multi-hundred million euro investment that includes an assembly line and a LEAP-engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, will create hundreds of skilled jobs and add significant local capacity for engine production and services.
King Mohammed VI and Moroccan officials attended the formal launch of works, which company and government statements date to mid-October 2025. Safran described the investment as the firm’s first aircraft-engine assembly line outside France and set an initial timeline that ties into growing global demand for LEAP family engines.
What was announced
- Who: Safran Group (CFM/CFM-partner through CFM International) in partnership with Moroccan government agencies.
- What: Launch of construction for an engine assembly and MRO complex, a €200-€350m scale investment reported across sources for assembly + MRO components (reported investment figures vary slightly by outlet; Safran lists the project scope).
- Where: Nouaceur / Midparc aerospace zone, Casablanca airport area (strategic free-zone industrial park).
- When: Launch/inauguration occurred in mid-October 2025 (ceremony reported Oct 13-14, 2025) with construction underway.
Why it matters
- Supply-chain resilience: The facility will expand Safran’s global capacity to assemble and service LEAP engines, used widely on Airbus A320neo family aircraft, easing pressure on engine production and repair backlogs. Reuters noted the move is part of Safran’s broader capacity expansion outside France.
- Industrial upgrade for Morocco: The project cements Morocco’s evolution from component manufacturer to higher-value assembly and MRO operations. Government and industry sources say the move will multiply local content and could double aerospace exports over coming years.
- Jobs & training: Safran and Moroccan authorities expect hundreds of direct jobs plus training programmes to build a local skilled workforce, central to Morocco’s industrial strategy to produce aerospace talent at scale.
Project details and capacity (what to expect)
Safran’s public statements and Reuters reporting indicate the site will combine assembly and testing facilities plus a LEAP-engine MRO unit. Reuters reported that the assembly line is expected to produce a significant number of engines annually (figures reported: up to 350 LEAP engines per year for the Airbus-related line, and a separate MRO capacity targeting ~150 engines/year in nearby facilities, these are project targets reported by Reuters and Safran).
Timeline & immediate impacts
- Oct 13-14, 2025: construction works launched, ceremony attended by King Mohammed VI and Safran executives.
- 2027 (MRO), some reporting projects the MRO plant opening by 2027; assembly line operational target around 2028 (project timescales vary by facility component).
- Medium term: expected increase in aerospace exports and local high-skill employment; potential to attract further OEM suppliers and MRO partners.
Morocco’s aerospace strategy
Morocco has steadily built an aerospace cluster for more than a decade, hosting over a hundred suppliers and growing exports. Government incentives, specialised training centres and near-airport industrial parks have been central to that push. Adding an engine assembly and MRO ecosystem signals a move up the value chain from parts production to final assembly and service, an uncommon capability in Africa. Earlier reporting situates this project as part of a broader national industrial strategy to diversify exports and create skilled jobs.
Expert and industry reaction
Safran frames the investment as a response to long-term demand and the need to diversify production footprints. Industry analysts earlier cited by Reuters link the move to OEMs’ efforts to despatch more engines and reduce the backlog of aircraft awaiting propulsion systems. Moroccan officials highlight the project as a strategic anchor investment to expand export capacity and local industrial know-how.
Risks & caveats
- Supply-chain and workforce ramp: Large aerospace projects face ramp-up risks, from sourcing specialized tooling to training technicians to aero-industry quality standards. Safran’s prior statements on global expansion indicate an awareness of these challenges and planned mitigation via training and staged roll-out.
- “Largest”/“first” labels: Regional outlets sometimes use superlatives; while the project is large and notable, absolute rankings depend on the metric used (investment vs capacity vs jobs). Where accuracy matters, cite specific numbers rather than superlatives alone.
What’s next? industry outlook
- Short term: construction and site works through 2026; initial MRO cell openings by 2027.
- Medium term: incremental ramp to full assembly throughput by 2028 and integration with Morocco’s training ecosystem to staff the facility. Expect follow-on supplier investments and potential partnerships with global OEMs and MRO operators.
Sources
- Safran Group press release / BusinessWire (official launch and project details).
- Reuters, “Safran to open new Airbus engine assembly line in Morocco” (project figures, capacity, timeline).
- Morocco World News, local coverage of inauguration and government quotes.
- Financial Afrik, Africanews, Forbes Middle East, regional reporting and project context.
- Ecofin, AP background coverage on Morocco’s aerospace ambitions.
