Morocco Advances Green Hydrogen Strategy with $31.9 Billion Investment Initiative

Rabat, The Gulf Observer: Morocco has taken a significant leap in its green hydrogen ambitions as Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch chaired a high-level steering committee meeting in Rabat on March 6, 2025. During the session, five major investors were selected to develop six large-scale projects worth MAD 319 billion ($31.9 billion) across Morocco’s three southern regions.

Strategic Investment Partnerships

The selected investors include:

• ORNX Consortium (USA, Spain, Germany): Led by American firm Ortus, Spain’s Acciona, and Germany’s Nordex, this consortium will focus on ammonia production.
• Taqa-Cepsa Consortium (UAE, Spain): This partnership will develop ammonia and industrial fuel projects.
• Nareva (Morocco): The Moroccan firm will undertake an integrated project encompassing ammonia, industrial fuel, and green steel production.
• ACWA Power (Saudi Arabia): This Saudi company will concentrate on green steel manufacturing.
• UEG-China Three Gorges Consortium (China): The Chinese-led group will establish ammonia production facilities.

These projects mark a critical step forward in Morocco’s transition to green energy, reinforcing its commitment to becoming a global leader in the sector.

Previous Agreements and Future Prospects

The newly announced projects follow two landmark agreements signed between Morocco and France in October 2024, witnessed by King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron. These agreements included partnerships with TotalEnergies and OCP’s collaboration with ENGIE, encompassing five additional green hydrogen initiatives.

To ensure responsible land use, the Moroccan government will allocate up to 30,000 hectares per project, supported by a structured contractual framework. The selection process followed a “scientific and transparent methodology,” designed to establish balanced and sustainable partnerships between Morocco and international investors.

A Vision Aligned with National Strategy

The initiative aligns with Morocco’s Green Hydrogen Strategy, first outlined in a government circular on March 11, 2024. The strategy leverages the country’s strategic geographic position, abundant natural resources, and advanced infrastructure to attract global investors. The directive follows King Mohammed VI’s Throne Speech of July 29, 2023, which called for the rapid and qualitative implementation of Morocco’s green hydrogen roadmap.

The Rabat meeting was attended by key government officials, including Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit, Equipment and Water Minister Nizar Baraka, Industry and Commerce Minister Ryad Mezzour, Investment Minister Karim Zidane, Budget Minister Fouzi Lekjaa, and MASEN CEO Tarik Moufaddal. The government reaffirmed that the selection process remains open to additional investors interested in contributing to Morocco’s green hydrogen sector.

With this milestone initiative, Morocco strengthens its position as a leader in the global energy transition, setting the stage for long-term economic and environmental sustainability.