OCP & Fortescue: hydrogen and ammonia production in Morocco

OCP Group and Fortescue Energy have announced a 50:50 Morocco-based Joint Venture (JV) focused on the supply of renewable hydrogen, ammonia, and fertilisers to the Moroccan, European and other markets.

The partnership also includes the potential development of manufacturing facilities and an R&D hub to advance the renewable energy industry in the North African country.

The key focus areas for the project will include the building of commercial-scale integrated renewable energy generation, electrolysis, ammonia and fertiliser production capacity. It will also involve green technology and equipment manufacturing.

To bolster an ecosystem capable of delivering the aforementioned targets, the proposal also features the development of a  technology and R&D hub proximally located to Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) near Marrakech. The R&D hub will focus on research in renewable energy, green hydrogen and minerals processing. The project will also foster the collaboration of corporate venture capital funds to drive investment in key technology advancements.

Our strategic partnership with Fortescue is a testimony to our joint commitment to decarbonisation, driving the development of cutting-edge facilities and delivering competitive renewable energy, products and technology.

This is a key step towards fulfilling our vision of simultaneously ensuring global food security and combating climate change.

Mostafa Terrab, Chairman and CEO of OCP Group, in Fortescue’s official press release, 8 April 2024

Together, Fortescue and OCP will build a world-leading and globally competitive platform to accompany Morocco’s journey into a green energy production, manufacturing, and industrial powerhouse.

Together, we will be a key originator and green corridor into Europe and to and from the Atlantic basin.

Morocco will be a major player in the global energy transition given it is home to some of the world’s most prospective wind and solar resources, two large coastlines, and is in close proximity to Europe and the Americas.

Andrew Forrest, Fortescue Executive Chair and Founder, in his organisation’s official press release, 8 April 2024

Fortescue: PEM electrolyser production in Queensland

Also this month, Fortescue has officially opened its electrolyser manufacturing facility in Gladstone, Queensland. The facility will enable Fortescue to design and produce electrolysers, establishing it as an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in the electrolysis supply chain.

The 15,000 m2 advanced manufacturing facility, featuring an automated assembly line, constructed and fully commissioned in just over 2 years, will have capacity to produce over 2GW of PEM electrolyser stacks per year.

In developing the facility, Fortescue received both regional and federal government support. The Queensland Government provided an electrical substation, road network, communications and local scheme water connection, and land allocation. The Federal government contributed AU$44 million from the Collaboration Stream of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative.

The electrolyser facility is part of the Green Energy Manufacturing Centre being developed by Fortescue on the 100 hectare Gladstone site. The next phases will also include a hydrogen system testing facility and Fortescue’s PEM50 green hydrogen project. The electrolyser facility construction created over 100 jobs, while the full manufacturing centre is expected to lead to over 300 direct and indirect jobs.

We are grateful for the Queensland and Federal Government’s vision and early support to help get us started.

Together we have laid the cornerstone for what will be a massive new manufacturing industry in Australia creating the potential for thousands of new green energy jobs.

Andrew Forrest, Fortescue Executive Chair and Founder, in his organisation’s official press release, 8 April 2024

We’re strategically focussed on building out our Energy business. Not only are we developing a pipeline of green energy projects, we’re also now designing and manufacturing the specialised equipment and technology that will underpin our green hydrogen projects and that of others.

We know that technology in this space moves very quickly so as well as producing electrolysers today, this facility also provides an amazing environment for our team to learn and then leverage that experience to drive innovation and develop the solutions of tomorrow,

We will continue to research, manufacture, source and invest in new electrolyser technologies across the world to give us the best possible competitive position.

Mark Hutchinson, Fortescue Energy CEO, in his organisation’s official press release, 8 April 2024