DR ‹ › An international consortium bringing together American, Spanish, and German companies has signed an agreement with the Moroccan government to secure a land parcel in the city of Laayoune for the development of a major low-cost ammonia production project. The initiative involves an initial investment estimated at $4.5 billion, according to Asharq Business. The ORNX consortium brings together the U.S.-based company Ortus, Spain's Acciona, and Germany's Nordex. The group plans to roll out three projects in southern Morocco, covering Laayoune, Boujdour, and Dakhla. The first project aims to establish a fully integrated energy system powered entirely by renewable sources, combining wind and solar energy with storage solutions and seawater desalination. This system will supply electrolysis units for hydrogen production. According to the consortium, the project's initial phase will enable the annual production of approximately 100,000 tons of low-cost hydrogen, which will then be converted into around 560,000 tons of ammonia to serve both domestic and international markets. Officials at ORNX argue that Morocco offers unique competitive advantages for the development of a global green hydrogen industry. Peter Gish, General Manager of the ORNX consortium, said that «the signing of this agreement marks a new milestone in our journey, reinforces our commitment to the future of energy in Morocco, and opens the door to strategic partnerships aimed at positioning the Kingdom as a global hub for the production and distribution of low-cost hydrogen and its derivatives». This investment is in line with Morocco's national strategy to establish itself as a regional and global center for the production and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives. In 2024, the Kingdom allocated nearly one million hectares of land to support the sector under the «Morocco Offer», a framework designed to attract large-scale foreign investment in clean energy.
