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Morocco World
12-03-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco, US Explore Energy Cooperation at CERAWeek Houston
Doha – Morocco's Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, met with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Tuesday in Houston, Texas, discussing enhanced cooperation opportunities in energy and strategic bilateral investments. The meeting took place on the sidelines of CERAWeek 2025, one of the world's top five corporate leader conferences, which is being held in Houston from March 10-14 under the theme 'Moving Ahead: Energy strategies for a complex world.' 'In Houston, on the margins of @CERAWeek, Minister Leila Benali held a constructive meeting with U.S. Energy Secretary @SecretaryWright, exploring valuable opportunities for enhanced cooperation in #energy and strategic bilateral investments,' Morocco's ambassador to Washington, Youssef Amrani, posted on X. '#Africa was a key focus, reflecting our shared commitment to inclusive prosperity and the continent's energy security,' he added. During the conference, Benali highlighted Morocco's Atlantic Corridor initiative. Ambassador Amrani detailed the initiative's scope on X: 'At #CERAWeek in Houston, Minister Leila Benali highlighted Morocco's Atlantic Corridor initiative, a strategic project enhancing energy connectivity between #Africa, #Europe, and the #Atlantic basin.' 'With Africa's 400 million consumers in focus, the initiative underscores the importance of energy accessibility as a driver of homegrown development and stronger capacities for win-win cooperation with international partners,' he continued. Last week, the steering committee of 'Morocco's Green Hydrogen Offer,' chaired by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, selected several international investors for projects valued at MAD 319 billion ($31.9 billion). Among these, the American firm Ortus, part of the ORNX consortium with Spain's Acciona and Germany's Nordex, was chosen for an ammonia production project in the Sahara. According to the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the country's electricity production in 2022 came from various sources: coal (37.25%), hydroelectricity (16.70%), natural gas (17.72%), wind (13.48%), solar (7.82%), and fuel oil (7.03%). The North African country currently imports approximately 90% of its energy needs, but aims to increase its energy security by reducing import dependence. As of late 2022, renewable energy accounted for 38% of the electrical capacity mix, reaching 4,154 MW, placing Morocco among the top five African countries in renewable energy capacity. CERAWeek 2025, chaired by American author and S&P chairman Daniel Yergin, has brought together over 450 C-Suite executives, 80 ministers and top officials, and 325 media representatives, with more than 10,000 participants from over 2,050 companies across 80 countries. The conference focuses on challenges in energy security, supply, climate ambitions, markets, infrastructure, policy directions, and technological advances, including AI. Read also: US, Morocco Advance Strategic Partnership Under Trump Administration Tags: CERAWeekMorocco US Relations
Ya Biladi
12-03-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco-US relations : From diplomacy to energy
Leila Benali, Morocco's Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, met with her American counterpart, Chris Wright, on Tuesday, March 11, in Houston, United States. This «constructive meeting» was an opportunity to explore «valuable opportunities for enhanced cooperation in #energy and strategic bilateral investments», stated Morocco's ambassador to Washington, Youssef Amrani, on X. In Houston, on the margins of @CERAWeek, Minister Leila Benali held a constructive meeting with U.S. Energy Secretary @SecretaryWright, exploring valuable opportunities for enhanced cooperation in #energy and strategic bilateral investments. #Africa was a key focus, reflecting… — Youssef Amrani (@youamrani) March 11, 2025 «Africa was a key focus, reflecting our shared commitment to inclusive prosperity and the continent's energy security», the diplomat added. The meeting took place on the sidelines of Benali's participation in an international energy conference. She was also scheduled to take part in discussions on Monday, March 10, focused on energy security challenges. At #CERAWeek in Houston, Minister Leila Benali highlighted Morocco's Atlantic Corridor initiative, a strategic project enhancing energy connectivity between #Africa, #Europe, and the #Atlantic basin. With Africa's 400 million consumers in focus, the initiative underscores the… — Youssef Amrani (@youamrani) March 12, 2025 Last week, the steering committee of «Morocco's Green Hydrogen Offer», chaired by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, selected the American company Ortus, a member of the ORNX consortium, for an ammonia production project in the Sahara.
Ya Biladi
07-03-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Green Hydrogen : 5 consortiums to invest 319 billion dirhams in Moroccan Sahara
Morocco has taken another step forward in the development of green hydrogen with the selection of five national and international investors for six projects in the country's three southern regions, totaling 319 billion dirhams. The decision was made during a meeting of the Steering Committee for «Morocco's Offer», chaired on Thursday in Rabat by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch. The selected investors include the consortium ORNX, composed of the American company Ortus, Spain's Acciona, and Germany's Nordex, which will invest in ammonia production. Another consortium, bringing together the Emirati Taqa and Spain's Cepsa, will focus on producing ammonia and industrial fuel, while the Moroccan company Nareva will invest in green steel. Saudi ACWA Power will also produce green steel, while the Chinese companies UEG and China Three Gorges will develop ammonia production units. Each project will be allocated up to 30,000 hectares of land, with the state ensuring optimal management of these public lands through a contractual framework. These six projects build on two agreements signed in October 2024 in the presence of King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron. The first, with TotalEnergies, focuses on developing Morocco's green hydrogen sector. The second, signed between Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP) and Engie, includes five projects, one of which is dedicated to green hydrogen. The government emphasizes that the selection of investors was based on a rigorous and transparent methodology, ensuring a sustainable partnership with the Kingdom. The process remains open to additional players interested in joining the initiative. This advancement aligns with Morocco's national strategy, launched in March 2024, following a directive from the Prime Minister to accelerate green hydrogen development. The initiative capitalizes on Morocco's strategic geographical position, abundant natural resources, and advanced infrastructure.
Morocco World
06-03-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Selects Five Investors for $31.9 Billion Green Hydrogen Projects
Doha – Morocco's green hydrogen ambitions took an epochal step forward as Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch chaired a steering committee meeting in Rabat today, where five major investors were selected to develop six projects valued at MAD 319 billion ($31.9 billion) across the country's three southern regions. The selected companies include the ORNX consortium, comprising American firm Ortus, Spain's Acciona, and Germany's Nordex, which will focus on ammonia production. A second consortium, formed by UAE-based Taqa and Spain's Cepsa, will produce both ammonia and industrial fuel. Moroccan company Nareva will invest in a comprehensive project encompassing ammonia, industrial fuel, and green steel production, while Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power will concentrate on green steel manufacturing. Additionally, a Chinese consortium consisting of UEG and China Three Gorges will establish ammonia production facilities. These projects follow two earlier agreements signed in October 2024 between Morocco and France, witnessed by King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron. The first agreement partners Morocco with TotalEnergies, while the second establishes collaboration between OCP and ENGIE, encompassing five projects, including one focused on green hydrogen. Each project will be allocated up to 30,000 hectares of land, with the government implementing measures to ensure proper use of public land through contractual frameworks. The selection process employed a 'scientific and transparent methodology' to guarantee balanced and sustainable partnerships between Morocco and the investors. The initiative builds upon a government circular issued on March 11, 2024, which laid out the implementation framework for Morocco's green hydrogen strategy. The strategy aims to capitalize on the country's strategic geographic location, diverse natural resources, and international-standard infrastructure. The meeting was attended by key government officials, including Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit, Equipment and Water Minister Nizar Baraka, Industry and Commerce Minister Ryad Mezzour, Investment Minister Karim Zidane, Budget Minister Fouzi Lekjaa, and MASEN CEO Tarik Moufaddal. The government maintains that the selection process remains open to additional investors interested in participating in Morocco's green hydrogen sector development. This strategic initiative aligns with directives outlined in King Mohammed VI's Throne Speech of July 29, 2023, which called for a rapid and qualitative implementation of Morocco's green hydrogen strategy to leverage the country's advantages in this emerging sector and meet global investor interest. Tags: green hydrogenMoroccan government
