Morocco has reportedly signed a major agreement with the international ORNX consortium to secure land in the southern province of Laayoune for a US$4.5 billion green ammonia project, according to media reports.
News outlet Asharq Business said on Thursday that the consortium, which includes Ortus from the United States, Acciona from Spain, and Nordex from Germany, reached an agreement with the Moroccan government to develop a low-cost ammonia production facility powered entirely by renewable energy.
“The consortium plans to develop a total of three projects dedicated to the production of green hydrogen and its derivatives,” Asharq reported. The project is said to feature a renewable energy facility generating over 2 gigawatts from wind and solar sources, supported by a battery energy storage system. Some 900 megawatts will be dedicated to electrolyzer units, alongside a seawater desalination plant to supply process water.
The agreement was reportedly signed in Rabat in the presence of Morocco’s Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, officials from Morocco, and Aimee Cutrona, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Morocco. The Moroccan government has not yet officially confirmed the project.
According to Asharq, the ORNX consortium also plans to undertake additional green hydrogen projects in Boujdour and Dakhla, further cementing southern Morocco as a hub for renewable energy and clean fuel production.
More Read
ORNX CEO Peter Gish described the agreement as a milestone in the consortium’s journey, underscoring its commitment to Morocco’s green energy future.
The project aligns with Morocco’s broader green hydrogen ambitions. In March 2025, the Moroccan government announced that five national and international operators would develop six green hydrogen projects in southern Morocco with total investment of US$31 million. ORNX was cited as one of the leading operators focused on ammonia production.
The initiative also reflects directives by King Mohammed VI, outlined in the Throne speech on July 29, 2023, in which the monarch urged the government to accelerate Morocco’s green hydrogen sector. He emphasized the need to uphold quality standards and leverage the country’s renewable energy potential to attract global investors in the growing market for clean energy solutions.
More Read
Analysts say Morocco’s strategic location, strong solar and wind resources, and supportive policy environment make it an attractive destination for international green hydrogen investors. The Laayoune project, if implemented, could become one of the largest green ammonia facilities in the region, producing a key component for fertilizers and clean energy exports.
Morocco has increasingly positioned itself as a regional leader in renewable energy, complementing earlier successes in solar and wind power projects. The Laayoune green ammonia initiative underscores the country’s ambition to expand into green hydrogen and related derivatives, which are projected to play a central role in global decarbonization efforts.
