Germany backs Morocco’s OCP green hydrogen plant with $32 Million
Germany is backing Morocco’s green hydrogen production with a $32 million (€30 million) investment in OCP Group’s green hydrogen plant in Jorf. The funding by the German PtX Development Fund is intended to support sustainable fertilizer manufacturing, according to German media reports.
The PtX Development Fund, endowed with a budget of €270 million, is initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and managed by KGAL Investment Management on behalf of KfW. KfW PtX program supports hydrogen projects in Global South countries to accelerate industrial decarbonization and foster the development of low-carbon value chains.
Germany’s investment will support Hydrojeel, a subsidiary of Morocco’s OCP Group. The facility will be powered by solar and wind energy, producing green hydrogen that will be converted into ammonia—an essential component for fertilizers and the chemical industry.
The Jorf Hydrogen Platform aims to produce 100,000 tons of green ammonia annually by the end of 2026, potentially preventing 300,000 tons of CO₂ emissions. This platform is a cornerstone of the OCP Group’s green ammonia program, which targets 1 million tons by 2027 and 3 million tons by 2032, nearly 2% of the global ammonia demand, and thus accelerate the transition to low-carbon fertilizer solutions.
Ammonia is a key ingredient in global food production, but its conventional production is highly carbon-intensive. The Jorf Hydrogen Platform addresses this challenge by using green hydrogen to establish a low-carbon fertilizer supply chain, thereby reinforcing the OCP Group’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and industrial decarbonization.
The initiative is part of OCP’s broader “Green Ammonia Program” to attract multi-billion-dollar investments. The goal is to make fertilizer production more sustainable and reduce reliance on fossil-based ammonia imports from countries such as Russia and Belarus.
Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary in Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, highlighted that the funding will help Morocco build a sustainable industry, reducing dependence on fossil fuels while opening new opportunities for trade and technology exports, a press release from HydroJeel said. The funding will be channeled through the PtX Development Fund.
Germany is supporting the transition to green energy by helping Morocco establish a hydrogen economy that contributes to social equity.
The investment is a key component of the German-Moroccan Climate and Energy Alliance. Beyond financial support, the ministry is providing Morocco with expertise on hydrogen strategies, economic policy frameworks, and research and training in Power-to-X (PtX) technologies.
The press release highlighted that Morocco was chosen to benefit from the PtX grant due to its ideal geographic conditions for renewable energy, its strong potential in green hydrogen, and its ambitious and transparent economic strategies regarding hydrogen.
The Kingdom offers significant opportunities for the development of green economic sectors and the promotion of local value creation. Additionally, the existing priorities of German cooperation closely align with Morocco’s objectives, fostering synergies and complementary opportunities.
This grant represents a major step in the industrialization of green hydrogen production, positioning the Jorf Hydrogen Platform as a benchmark in sustainable ammonia production. By mobilizing global expertise and strategic funding, HydroJeel and the PtX Development Fund are accelerating the transition to industrial ecosystems based on clean energy, contributing to Morocco’s evolution towards a more sustainable energy future.
The grant agreement was officially signed this week by Amine Houssaim, CEO of HydroJeel and INNOVX, and Thomas Engelmann, managing director of the PtX Development Fund, in the presence of the Ambassador of Germany to Morocco, Robert Dölger, and the Director of KfW Morocco, Janne Rajpar, HydroJeel press release said.