Located 70km north of Marrakesh, Benguérir is the newest of Morocco’s four phosphate mining centres, having started production in 1979–80. Operated by Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP), the opencast mine works 24h/d in three shifts and is managed together with the Youssoufia mining and treatment centre. OCP employs around 775 people at Benguérir.