13-05-2025
Billionaire Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest and Moroccan politician Leila Benali in London for talks with UK Government on huge $51billion project a year after they were pictured kissing in Paris
Mining billionaire Andrew ' Twiggy ' Forrest is back in the headlines with the glamorous Moroccan politician he was photographed kissing in Paris last year.
Mr Forrest has been in talks with Britain's Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, about a $51billion dream to power the UK with electricity from Morocco.
The project aims to send solar power generated in the Moroccan desert back to the British electricity grid through a 4000km undersea cable.
Leila Benali, Morocco's Energy Minister, who was pictured kissing Mr Forrest a year ago, was also in London in late April to sell her nation's energy supply to Mr Miliband.
But it is understood Mr Forrest did not cross paths with Ms Benali and he was instead in New York after being named among Time magazine's 100 most influential people.
The Fortescue Metals Group chairman, worth an estimated $15billion, was recognised by Time for his philanthropy and transforming the mining giant into a 'clean-energy powerhouse'.
Daily Mail Australia published pictures of Mr Forrest kissing the glamorous woman in a Paris park last May, almost a year after he announced his split from wife Nicola.
Mr Forrest was seen with his arm around his companion's shoulders as they walked along Rue de Francs-Bourgeois through the historic Marais district on the Right Bank of the River Seine.
An observer said the couple appeared 'very affectionate' as they held hands and enjoyed the sights of the City of Love.
Ms Benali was subsequently named as the woman embraced by Mr Forrest in the Place de Vosges but she denied it was her to Moroccan media.
Morocco World News quoted the nation's Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development describing reports about Ms Leila and Mr Forrest as 'offensive'.
The outlet said Ms Benali 'denies any connection' to the photographs of Mr Forrest - 'as a minister responsible in the government as well as a Moroccan woman and mother'.
'She also extended her gratitude and appreciation to all those who have shown her support and solidarity as she navigates what she has maintained is a fabricated and baseless story,' it reported.
Ms Benali was asked by a Moroccan journalist after the pictures were published if she had any romantic connection to Mr Forrest in an exchange captured by a local news website.
'No, no, I will not speak,' she told the reporter.
Daily Mail Australia contacted Morocco's Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development about her association with Mr Forrest but it never responded.
Mr Forrest declined to discuss the photographs at the time, with a spokeswoman saying the 63-year-old does not comment on private matters.
There have been no published reports of Mr Forrest being seen with Ms Benali since the Paris images emerged.
Mr Forrest founded iron ore miner Fortescue in 2003 and is now dedicated to 'ending the use of fossil fuels, creating green energy solutions, tackling global challenges like modern slavery' according to company's website.
Fortescue announced in April last year it had entered a joint venture with Moroccan state-owned phosphate miner OCP Group to supply green hydrogen, ammonia and fertilisers.
Mr Forrest is seeking the support of Mr Miliband for his proposal to pipe clean energy via subsea cable from North African solar farms to Europe.
Ms Benali said 'the current state of global infrastructure requires radical transformations' when she addressed the Summit of the Future of Energy Security in London last month.
Mr and Ms Forrest announced their separation on July 12 , 2023 after months of speculation they were no longer together.
'After 31 years of marriage, we have made the decision to live apart,' they said in a joint statement.
'Our friendship and commitment to our family remains strong.'
As well as maintaining a 36 per cent shareholding Fortescue, the Forrests jointly oversee their private investment arm, Tattarang Capital, and co-chair the philanthropic Minderoo Foundation.
The Forrests bought bush outfitters RM Williams through Tattarang in October 2020 and added the equally iconic Akubra hat brand to their portfolio in November 2023 year.
At the same time the Forrests revealed the end of their marriage they stated there would be no change in the way their business and charity empire operated.
'There is no impact on the operations, control or direction of Fortescue, Minderoo or Tattarang,' a company spokeswoman assured investors.
'Andrew Forrest and Nicola Forrest share the same vision for Fortescue to become the world's leading green energy and green metals company leading global heavy industry to tackle climate change.'
