The tanneries could leave Fes forever
The world-famous tanneries in the old part of Fes could disappear - the industry itself wants to move its activities out of town.
The Association of Modern Tanneries and Leather Goods Producers (ATMFAC) has come up with a plan to create three “tannery villages” near Fes, Marrakech and Settat.
Moving the tanneries, the Association argues, will reduce pollution in the cities and allow the industry to grow. ATMFAC thinks that at the new sites, production could be tripled.
“We’re talking about the survival of the sector,” Latifa Boughalem, ATMFAC’s regional president in Marrakech, tells L’Economiste. “We need to have a production site that meets international environmental standards. It is a polluting activity.”
She explains that tanneries use lime and chemicals to soften the leather. They also use a lot of water, which can be problematic in urban centers, Boughalem adds.
A project proposal for the first “tannery village” near Marrakech has been sent to the authorities, who have yet to reply.
The tanneries in Fes are among the city’s best-known tourist attractions.