In accordance with the visionary outlook of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, aimed at bringing Morocco into the club of countries with high potential in green hydrogen, the Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch chaired a meeting in Rabat on Thursday of the Steering Committee responsible for the “Morocco Offer” in this emerging sector, during which 5 national and global investors were selected for the realization of 6 projects in the three southern regions of the Kingdom, at a cost of 319 billion dirhams (MMDH), with a view to starting negotiations with the selected parties.
These are leading companies in the field of green hydrogen in their respective countries, forming the investor consortium “ORNX,” which includes the American company “Ortus,” the Spanish company “Acciona,” and the German company “Nordex,” which will invest in ammonia production, according to a statement from the Head of Government’s department.
There is also another consortium of investors, consisting of the Emirati company “Taqa” and the Spanish company “Cepsa” for the production of ammonia and industrial fuel, as well as the Moroccan company “Nareva,” which will invest in the production of ammonia, industrial fuel, and green steel. This same material will also be produced by the Saudi company “ACWA Power,” while another consortium of investors made up of the Chinese companies “UEG” and “China Three Gorges” is expected to produce ammonia.
During this meeting, the Head of Government stated that the government has established a positive dynamic based on meticulousness and rigor in the implementation of the “Morocco Offer” in green hydrogen, in line with the High Royal Directives contained in the Throne Speech of July 29, 2023, in which the Sovereign, may God preserve Him, had urged the government to undertake the rapid and qualitative implementation of the “Morocco Offer” in the field of green hydrogen “in order to capitalize on the assets that our country has in this area and to best respond to the projects put forward by global investors in this promising sector.”
The selection of the holders of the 6 projects was carried out according to a scientific and transparent methodology, ensuring a balanced and sustainable partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and these investors, with a view to signing preliminary contracts to mobilize the land base intended for the implementation of these strategic projects, with a ceiling of 30 thousand hectares per project, according to the same source.
The State will ensure, through the contractual framework that binds it to the holders of these projects, to preserve and guarantee the proper use of the public land base, notes the statement.
These six projects come in addition to the two projects planned by the two agreements signed before His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, and the French President, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, in October 2024 in Rabat, the first of which concerns the implementation of the “Morocco Offer” for the development of the green hydrogen sector, linking the Kingdom of Morocco to the “Total Energies” group.
The second agreement concerns the joint development between the Office Chérifien des Phosphates and the company “ENGIE,” which includes five projects, one of which pertains to the green hydrogen sector.
It should be noted that the project selection procedure under the “Morocco Offer” in green hydrogen remains open to investors, specifies the same source.
The dynamic recorded in the implementation of the “Morocco Offer” in green hydrogen crowns the action initiated by the publication on March 11, 2024, of the circular from the Head of Government for the implementation of this offer, in accordance with the High Royal Directives, with a view to developing the green hydrogen sector, through leveraging the Kingdom’s privileged position, its rich and diverse natural resources, its strategic geographical location, and its internationally standardized infrastructure.
Participating in this meeting were Mr. Abdelouafi Laftit, Minister of the Interior, Mr. Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water, Mr. Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Karim Zidane, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government, responsible for Investment, Convergence, and Public Policy Evaluation, Mr. Fouzi Lekjaa, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, responsible for Budget, and Mr. Tarik Moufaddal, CEO of MASEN.