Politician named as Twiggy’s mystery woman in Paris photo hits back

A politician who was named as the mystery woman seen kissing Australian mining magnate Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forest in Paris has reportedly denied the “baseless” claim.

A Moroccan politician who was named as the mystery woman seen kissing Australian mining magnate Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forest in Paris has reportedly denied the “baseless” claim.

Mr Forrest, 62, who separated from his wife Nicola last July after more than three decades, was spotted on a “very affectionate” stroll with a woman along the Rue des Francs-Bourgeois on the banks of the River Seine.

They were photographed stopping for a kiss last Saturday in the city’s oldest square, the Place de Vosges, The Daily Mail first reported.

Her identity was later claimed by The Australian to be Leila Benali, Morocco’s energy minister.

Ms Benali also sits on the board of OCP Group, one of Fortescue’s joint venture partners in the North African country where the Perth-based mining giant is drawing up plans for a multibillion-dollar renewable energy and green ammonia investment.

Andrew Forrest was photographed taking a romantic stroll in Paris. Picture: Supplied

In her first public comments since her identity was revealed by the newspaper, a Moroccan journalist asked Ms Benali whether she was romantically linked with Ms Forrest and whether they had any business relationships.

“No, no I will not speak,” she said before being escorted out in footage posted to a local news website, per The Australian.

However, the Morocco World News website has since quoted a statement from the country’s the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development flatly denying the story.

The statement described the news story as “offensive” and said it was circulated without “verification of its credibility by some national pages and media platforms”.

Ms Benali “denies any connection to either picture as a minister responsible in the government as well as a Moroccan woman and mother”, Morocco World News reported.

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”.

The Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development has been contacted for comment.

Fortescue on Wednesday again refused to confirm or deny the reports naming Ms Benali.

A spokeswoman for Mr Forrest over the weekend declined to comment on the Paris photograph for privacy reasons.

Leila Benali, Morocco’s energy minister. Picture: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg

In April, Fortescue announced the joint venture with OCP Group, one of the world’s biggest phosphate miners, with the aim of supplying green hydrogen, ammonia, and fertilisers to Morocco, Europe and international markets.

The deal includes the potential development of manufacturing facilities and an R&D hub to advance the rapidly growing renewable energy industry in Morocco, the ASX-listed miner said in the announcement.

“Our strategic partnership with Fortescue is a testimony to our joint commitment to decarbonisation, driving the development of cutting-edge facilities and delivering competitive renewable energy, products and technology,” OCP Group chairman and chief executive Mostafa Terrab said in a statement at the time.

“This is a key step towards fulfilling our vision of simultaneously ensuring global food security and combating climate change.”

Mr Forrest said in the announcement that the two companies “will build a world-leading and globally competitive platform to accompany Morocco’s journey into a green energy production, manufacturing, and industrial powerhouse”.

“Together, we will be a key originator and green corridor into Europe and to and from the Atlantic basin,” he said.

“Morocco will be a major player in the global energy transition given it is home to some of the world’s most prospective wind and solar resources, two large coastlines, and is in close proximity to Europe and the Americas.”

OCP Group is one of the world’s largest phosphate miners. Picture: Fadel Senna/AFP

OCP Group, which generated more than $US9 billion ($13.5 billion) in revenue last year, recently launched a green investment strategy centred on increasing fertiliser production to 20 million tonnes a year, up from 12 million tonnes in 2022, and investing in renewable energy.

“The strategy foresees an overall investment of approximately $US13 billion ($19.5 billion) over the period 2023-2027, which will enable the group to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2027 and achieve full carbon neutrality by 2040,” it said.

But its plans are already controversial in Morocco, The Australian reports.

OCP Group had originally intended to create a green ammonia production centre in the small fishing town of Tarfaya in south western Morocco, only 35 kilometres from the disputed border with Western Sahara.

A separatist movement of the traditional Sahrawi people has this year launched attacks on Moroccan troops in the region.

Morocco has claimed control of Western Sahara since 1975 when it was given up as a Spanish colony, sparking a long-running guerrilla war for independence by the Sahrawi Liberation Army, also known as the Polisario Front.

Fighting between Moroccan forces and the Polisario Front broke out in 2020. Picture: AFP

A UN-backed ceasefire was signed in 1991, but fighting between the two groups broke out again in 2020.

Morocco has accused Iran and its Lebanese Shi’ite ally, Hezbollah, of training and arming the Polisario Front — a claim denied by Iran.

It’s not clear whether the Fortescue-backed joint venture will follow OCP Group’s original plans.

“The Fortescue team is working with key stakeholders as we continue to develop our ambitious strategy with OCP, developed over more than two years, to develop green energy, hydrogen and ammonia in Morocco,” a spokesman said.

“We are committed to working with OCP to build a world-leading and globally competitive platform to accompany Morocco’s journey into a green energy production, manufacturing and industrial powerhouse.”

Andrew and Nicola Forrest, Australia’s richest couple with a net worth of around $35 billion, announced their shock split in a joint statement last year, saying they had decided to “live apart” after 31 years of marriage. It was understood they have no plans to divorce.

Andrew and Nicola Forrest. Picture: Supplied

Following the separation, Mr Forrest’s paper wealth took a huge hit and he fell from second place on The Australian Financial Review’s Rich List to tenth spot with an estimated $13.5 billion.

Speaking to reporters the following month, the mining magnate said the pair remained on good terms.

“Nic and I are good mates, we speak all the time,” he told 9News.

“She’s a fantastic lady. We made the call that it was better for everyone if we didn’t live right on top of each other but we still absolutely support each other.”

The couple share three adult children — Grace, Sophia and Sydney.

The Forrests have previously revealed that their children won’t inherit the vast majority of their wealth, with the fortune instead set to be distributed to a range of charitable causes, including Indigenous support, education reform and cancer research.

Speaking to the ABC’s Australian Story in 2022, Ms Forrest said she didn’t want her children to be “be burdened” by such immense funds.

Mr Forrest echoed his wife’s sentiment, saying it was an easy move. “The decision to give away everything but the personal things and goods was easy,” he said. “You know, let’s not die wealthy. What’s the point of that?”

Originally published as Politician named as Twiggy’s mystery woman in Paris photo hits back