Five months after their relocation was announced, traders at Casablanca’s Salmia scrap market are still waiting to learn when they will move to the new site planned near the Mediouna landfill.
The project had been the subject of an agreement in principle between the City Council and the Regional Federation of Importers and Sellers of Used Spare Parts in Salmia. Local authorities had also announced plans to prepare and develop the new site so that traders could continue their activities under better conditions.
However, the situation on the ground remains unchanged. Traders say the site in Mediouna has yet to be developed and that they have not received a clear timetable for either the demolition of their current premises or their relocation.
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The uncertainty is directly affecting their businesses. Several traders say they are now hesitant to restock or bring in new goods, fearing a sudden demolition order that could force them to bear additional costs to move their merchandise.
Soufiane Aziz, president of the Regional Federation of Importers and Sellers of Used Spare Parts in Salmia, has called for a meeting to be held as early as September to review the project’s progress and address traders’ concerns.
According to him, business activity has already declined sharply since this period of uncertainty began. Traders prefer to sell off the goods currently available in their premises rather than import new stock while they await clarity on their relocation.
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During a previous visit to the site, Le360 counted more than 1,200 businesses spread across more than 15 groups. The market is also an important source of income for the local workforce. According to traders, workers can earn between 120 and 200 dirhams a day, particularly through intermediary activities between sellers and customers or by working directly in the businesses.
The relocation to Mediouna is expected to bring these activities together in a developed site equipped with water and electricity. But until the new site is ready and a clear timetable is announced, Salmia’s traders remain in limbo.
