LAAYOUNE, Morocco (MNTV) — Morocco has signed an agreement with the international ORNX consortium to secure land for a $4.5 billion green ammonia production complex in Laayoune, according to industry reports, marking a major step in the country’s expanding green hydrogen strategy.
The ORNX consortium includes U.S.-based Ortus, Spain’s Acciona, and Germany’s Nordex. While the agreement has been reported by sector sources, Morocco’s government has not yet officially confirmed the project.
The planned facility will focus on low-cost green ammonia production and is expected to be fully powered by renewable energy, according to Hydrocarbon Processing.
The project design includes more than 2 gigawatts of wind and solar generation capacity, a battery energy storage system, 900 megawatts of electrolyzers for hydrogen production, and a seawater desalination plant to support operations.
ORNX also plans additional green hydrogen and derivative projects in Boujdour and Dakhla, as part of a broader multi-site development strategy in Morocco’s southern provinces.
ORNX Chief Executive Officer Peter Gish described the land agreement as a significant milestone, highlighting the consortium’s long-term commitment to Morocco’s energy transition and its ambition to scale green hydrogen production.
The initiative aligns with Morocco’s broader push to develop a competitive green hydrogen sector. In March, Moroccan authorities announced that five national and international operators, including ORNX, would develop six green hydrogen projects in the country’s south.
The agreement also follows King Mohammed VI’s 2023 call to accelerate green hydrogen development and position Morocco as a key global destination for investment in renewable hydrogen and its derivatives.
