Morocco selects 6 green hydrogen projects worth $32 bln

The Moroccan government said it has selected 6 projects led by 5 national and international firms to launch green hydrogen projects in the southern provinces, the Sahara, to produce ammonia, fuel, and steel, as part of its offer to investors.

The companies that were selected by the “Morocco Offer” committee are:

– The ORNX consortium made up of the US-based Ortus, Spain’s Acciona, and Germany’s Nordex, who teamed up to produce green ammonia;

– A consortium composed of the UAE’s Taqa and Spain’s CESPA who will be producing green ammonia and industrial fuel;

– Morocco’s Nareva which submitted a bid to produce green ammonia, industrial fuel, and green steel;

– Saudi Arabia’s Acwa power which will produce steel;

– A consortium made up of China’s UEG and China Three Gorges that will produce ammonia.

King Mohammed VI had urged the government to speed up Morocco’s green hydrogen offer, which was unveiled last year, identifying 1 million hectares with 300,000 to be made available at a first stage.

Morocco would offer a maximum of 30,000 hectares to each project after the signature of relevant agreement with the above-mentioned firms, the head of the government’s office said.

During the French President’s visit to Morocco in October, the government signed an agreement to develop green hydrogen industries with Total energies.

Phosphates and fertilizer’s producer, OCP, which is Morocco’s top ammonia importer also signed a deal with Engie to develop industries relating to green hydrogen including ammonia production.

Germany has manifested interest in Morocco’s hydrogen potential, signing an alliance with the country that is poised to be a key supplier of hydrogen-based fuel to the EU.