Morocco signs agreement with ORNX consortium for $4.5-B green ammonia complex
Morocco has reportedly signed a major agreement with the international ORNX consortium to secure land in Laayoune, in the country’s southern provinces, for a $4.5-billion green ammonia project. The consortium includes US-based Ortus, Spain’s Acciona and Germany’s Nordex.
The agreement covers the development of a low-cost green ammonia production facility. However, Morocco’s government has not yet officially confirmed the project.
ORNX plans to develop three projects focused on green hydrogen and its derivatives. The Laayoune project will be fully powered by renewable energy, with more than 2 gigawatts of capacity from wind and solar sources. It will include a battery energy storage system, 900 megawatts dedicated to electrolyzers for hydrogen production, and a seawater desalination plant. Additional projects are reportedly planned in Boujdour and Dakhla.
ORNX CEO Peter Gish described the agreement as a key milestone, underscoring the consortium’s commitment to Morocco’s energy future. The deal aligns with Morocco’s broader push to expand its green hydrogen sector. In March, the government announced that five national and international operators, including ORNX, would develop six green hydrogen projects in southern Morocco.
The initiative supports King Mohammed VI’s 2023 call to accelerate green hydrogen development and position Morocco as a competitive destination for global investors in the sector.
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