The Minister of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment, Abdelkader Amara, inaugurated the Zgounder silver mine on Saturday, 20 September 2014, located in the rural commune of Askaoun (approximately 140 km north-east of Taroudant).

This mine was operated by the BRPM (the current National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines - ONHYM) and the Compagnie Minière de Touissit during the 1982-2002 period. Currently, this mine is operated under a partnership agreement concluded in January 2012 between the Canadian company Maya Gold & Silver (85%) and the ONHYM (15%).

This project required an investment of 193 million dirhams, which allowed for the reopening and upgrading of the mine and the creation of 170 direct jobs, which will reach 200 by June 2015.