Laayoune, Morocco – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency signed an agreement with Moroccan-based joint venture ORNX Laayoune 1 SASU (ORNX) to fund a pre-front end engineering and design (FEED) study supporting a large-scale ammonia production plant in Morocco’s southern provinces using U.S. technology.
“Morocco has made ammonia production in the region a top national priority. When our allies are making generational infrastructure decisions, USTDA is proud to partner with U.S. industry to demonstrate the best of what America has to offer,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s Deputy Director. “USTDA’s assistance will put U.S. technology and expertise at the center ofwhat Morocco has identified as a cornerstone of the region’s economic future.”
ORNX has selected a consortium of U.S. companies led by global engineering and technology firm Kellogg Brown & Root LLC, including GE Vernova, Electric Hydrogen (EH2) and Terabase to carry out the study, which will include an assessment of electrolyzer technology from EH2. The study will also evaluate power supply options, determine optimal sizing and configuration of the plant’s industrial components, and produce detailed financial projections and business models. When operational, the facility is expected to produce up to 560,000 tons of ammonia per year.
Ammonia is one of the world’s most important industrial chemicals, essential to food production as a key ingredient in fertilizer and widely used in refrigeration, water purification, and manufacturing. For Morocco, the project represents a major economic development opportunity in Morocco’s southern provinces and cements the country’s role as a reliable partner in meeting global industrial demand.
Peter A. Gish, ORNX CEO said: “We are very grateful to USTDA for its considerable support as we reach this important milestone for our ammonia project in Laayoune, Morocco. This funding will allow us to complete the pre-FEED studies with our partners KBR, GE Vernova, Electric Hydrogen, and Terabase, driving both the technical and commercial development of the project as we accelerate toward the FEED and Final Investment Decisions. We are honored to see ORNX serve as a shining example of the strong strategic partnership between Morocco and the United States. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with USTDA, the U.S. Embassy in Rabat, and all our partners to complete the development and financing of the project.”
U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Duke Buchan IIIsaid: “The approval of this grant for the ORNX low-cost ammonia project in Laayoune highlights the strategic importance of U.S. investment in the Moroccan Sahara. American companies continue to demonstrate unmatched leadership and technology in developing and producing the energy that powers the global economy, including in Morocco. By fostering industrial ventures like this, we are opening new frontiers for U.S. exports and creating lasting jobs in both the United States and Morocco. More is to come in this critical region.”
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is the U.S. government’s first mover on critical infrastructure development in emerging markets, advancing the shared strategic priorities of the United States and our overseas partners while creating opportunities to deploy trusted U.S. solutions. USTDA funds the upfront technical work that accelerates the development of infrastructure projects, helping them attract the financing they need for implementation and procurement of U.S. goods and services.
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