Investing in hydrogen: a global interactive guide - Morocco

As the hydrogen market continues to develop, Ashurst's global interactive guide helps you navigate the evolving hydrogen strategies and regulations, the available incentives and major projects taking place in countries that are focused on this energy source.

Created to enable better decision-making with regards to investability in hydrogen around the world, discover individual country content below, or return to our global guide to find out more. 

Policy and regulation

1. Is there a government hydrogen strategy or policy?

Yes. For several years, the Kingdom of Morocco has been pioneering in its efforts to establish a green hydrogen economic and industrial sector to strengthen its energy transition. 

The government's initiative was launched in 2019 with the creation of the Moroccan National Hydrogen Commission, which brings together all the stakeholders, including: 

• the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development; 
• the Minister of Economy and Finance;
• the Minister of Industry and Commerce; 
• the Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports;
• University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P);
• Moroccan National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water;
• Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN);
• Moroccan Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM);
• Moroccan Research Institute for Solar Energy and New Energies (IRESEN);
• the Rabat School of Mines (ENSMR); and General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM). 

In January 2021, the Moroccan Green Hydrogen Map (the H2 Roadmap) was published, followed by the publication on 11 March 2024 of Circular No. 03/2024 relating to the Moroccan offer for the development of the green hydrogen sector (the Morocco H2 Offer). 

In addition to the H2 Roadmap and the Morocco H2 Offer, the EU–Morocco Green Partnership, launched in October 2022, established a strategic framework for cooperation on climate action, renewable energy and green hydrogen. 

2. What are the key goals and commitments included in the strategy/policy?

The Strategy

The H2 Roadmap identifies three core components of the government's strategy on green hydrogen:

Using this strategy, Morocco aims to gradually implement the development of green hydrogen projects in the short, medium and long terms: 

• Short term (2020–2030): The H2 Roadmap concentrates on its two pillars, which are (i) domestic use of green hydrogen for the production of green ammonia, and (ii) early exports of green hydrogen derivatives.
• Medium term (2030–2040): During this phase, falling costs and the implementation of environmental regulations are expected to unlock the first economically viable projects, especially for green ammonia and green hydrogen (both for domestic use and for export). Exports of synthetic fuels will also be feasible if importing regions – especially Europe – adopt favourable policies. In parallel, the use of green hydrogen for power storage and in transport will help to further expand the industry. In the energy sector, storage of green hydrogen is seen as a vector for reduced grid congestion and improved flexibility of the electricity system.
• Long term (2040–2050): Financial profitability analyses for ammonia, green hydrogen and synthetic fuels will accelerate and drive the scaling up of exports, as well as a broader domestic acceleration particularly in terms of industry, heat production, the residential sector, urban mobility and air transport. 

Morocco H2 Offer

The Morocco H2 Offer for the development of the green hydrogen sector was implemented through Circular No. 03/2024 issued by the Head of Government on 11 March 2024. The Morocco H2 Offer covers the entire green hydrogen value chain and reflects Morocco's aim to capture over 4% of global green hydrogen demand by 2030 by leveraging Morocco's renewable energy potential, its strategic location, its infrastructure and its human capital. 

The Morocco H2 Offer is aimed at investors or consortiums seeking to produce green hydrogen and its derivatives in Morocco for the domestic market or export, or both. It advocates a "holistic, transparent and pragmatic approach" based on the following five pillars: 

1. Access to land 

The government has dedicated approximately 1 000 000 hectares for the development of green hydrogen projects. Phase I will see the provision of 300 000 hectares, which will be divided into plots of between 10 000 and 30 000 hectares. This is a key component of the Morocco H2 Offer to unlock H2 projects, with the phasing in of land rights available to investors as the project progresses (see paragraph 4 below).

2. Competitive infrastructure 

The Morocco H2 Offer recognises the need to develop additional infrastructure and to provide investors with visibility on the infrastructure needed for the development of green hydrogen projects. It seeks to develop a competitive infrastructure that will be planned, mutualised, developed and maintained in accordance with international standards: port infrastructure, hydrogen and gas pipelines to be connected to the European hydrogen/gas grid, desalination projects for green hydrogen purposes, salt caverns for the storage of green hydrogen, and the strengthening of the national electricity transmission network (see Annex 1 below). 

3. Investment, tax and customs incentives 

The government has already adopted a clear incentive scheme for investment (across sectors) through the new investment charter adopted by Dahir No. 1-22-76, dated 9 December 2022, promulgating Law No. 03-22 (the Investment Charter). These incentives are detailed under question 8 below. 

The investors will also be able to benefit from tax and customs incentives, including customs duty exemptions and VAT exemptions.

4. Investor selection process 

Investors submit their bids to MASEN and must demonstrate, in particular, their financial strength and experience in the green hydrogen value chain.

i. Preliminary land reservation contracts

Once bids have been submitted, the government holds initial negotiations with selected investors, focusing in particular on the preliminary reservation of land.

If negotiations are successful, both parties sign a preliminary land reservation contract.

These preliminary contracts set out the parties' mutual commitments, including:

• For the state: it will reserve land for the exclusive use of the investor for up to six months (extendable);
• For the investor: it will deliver a Preliminary Front End Engineering and Design (Pre-FEED) study (costs, schedule, content, expected results, etc), as well as an agreement on conditions of land use (duration, rent, etc). 

ii. Advanced studies agreement

If both parties fulfil their commitments within the term of the preliminary land reservation contract, they will enter into final negotiations leading to an advanced studies agreement. This agreement specifies, among other things:

• For the state: it will allocate land for the exclusive use of the investor for the duration of the advanced studies and until the conditions for the final allocation of land in respect of the investor have been met and a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) has been made.
• For the investor: it will complete the Front End Engineering and Design study (costs, timeline, expected results, jobs, industrial integration, financial returns for the state, etc) within a maximum of 18 months (extendable by agreement between both parties) and commitments regarding land use and project benefits for Morocco.

iii.  Framework investment agreement 

After the advanced studies phase:

• If the FID is positive and the investor meets all the conditions of the advanced studies agreement, the parties will enter into a framework investment agreement in accordance with the terms agreed in the advanced studies agreement.
• If the FID is positive but the investor does not meet all the conditions set out in the advanced studies agreement, the investor and the state will enter into negotiations with a view to possibly concluding an investment framework agreement.

This framework investment agreement sets out among other things:

• For the state: it will allocate land for the exclusive use of the investor for the entire duration of the development, construction and operation period.
• For the investor: it will implement an investment programme (costs, timetable, jobs, industrial integration, financial returns for the state, etc) and specify land-use terms.

See the diagram of the selection process for investors in Annex 2 below. 

5. Governance of the green hydrogen sector

The governance framework of the green hydrogen sector is structured as follows: 

• The Steering Committee, which is chaired by the Head of Government, is responsible for the implementation of the Morocco H2 Offer and for defining its key missions. The Steering Committee consists of representatives from the government authorities in charge of the Interior, Finance, Equipment, Water, Industry, Energy, Investment and the Budget.
• The Investment Committee assists the Steering Committee in carrying out its responsibilities. The Investment Committee includes a Moroccan Government representative; representatives from the government authorities in charge of the Interior, Finance, Equipment, Water, Industry, Energy and the Budget; and a representative from MASEN.

Alongside these two committees, MASEN  serves as the focal point and preliminary and privileged contact for investors who would like to develop green hydrogen projects.

MASEN is therefore responsible for receiving, informing and guiding companies seeking to invest in green hydrogen and putting potential investors in contact with the relevant ministerial departments, public institutions and companies. 

EU-Morocco Green Partnership

The EU–Morocco Green Partnership, signed in October 2022, establishes a strategic framework for cooperation focusing on: 

• energy transition and decarbonisation of the Moroccan economy; 
• climate change mitigation and adaptation;
• protection of the environment; and
• development of the green and blue economies. 

As part of this partnership, a series of workshops have been organised to harmonise the Moroccan certification system with European requirements.  

This regulatory harmonisation is intended to support the recognition of Moroccan green hydrogen on the European market, subject to compliance with applicable EU criteria.

3. Which industry sectors are most likely to be affected by hydrogen deployment?

The sectors most likely to be affected by hydrogen development include:

• Desalination: Green hydrogen projects will increase demand for desalinated water; therefore, many desalination plants are expected to be developed in Morocco in the coming years. 
• Energy: Green hydrogen projects require significant renewable energy capacity. Further development of solar and wind projects, related supply chains, and reinforcement of the national electricity transmission network will be necessary. 
• Ports and logistics: In the light of Morocco's ambitions for green hydrogen exports, major developments in the ports sector are expected.
• Fertiliser industry: The introduction of green hydrogen into Morocco's fertiliser industry has the potential to completely transform the sector, enabling the production of low-carbon fertilisers, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and opening up new export opportunities in European and African markets.
• Green ammonia industry:  Green hydrogen is an important raw material for the production of green ammonia – a key product for the chemical and agricultural industries. Green ammonia is therefore central to Morocco's energy and industrial strategy and it is at the heart of several huge projects. 
• Green steel industry: Green hydrogen is central to the production of green steel. Given Morocco's ambitions to position itself as a future green steel hub, the Kingdom is set to play a key role in meeting Europe's decarbonisation needs. 

4. Who are the main regulators for the hydrogen market?

In accordance with royal instructions, the Moroccan National Electricity Regulatory Authority (ANRE) is in the process of expanding its mission to include other strategic energy sectors, such as natural gas, hydrogen and its derivatives, as well as the entire energy value chain. This reform is ongoing. 

5. Does the government hydrogen strategy or policy support the development of both low-carbon (blue) hydrogen and renewable (green) hydrogen?

No - Morocco is focusing primarily on green hydrogen.

6. If the government hydrogen strategy or policy supports the development of low-carbon hydrogen, to what extent is carbon capture and storage being taken forward?

For now, there is no specific policy supporting the development of low-carbon hydrogen. 

7. Are there targets for the production of hydrogen?

Yes. Morocco aims to capture approximately 4% of global green hydrogen production by 2030. The H2 Roadmap estimates that the green hydrogen and derivatives industry in Morocco could be facing demand of between 13.9 TWh and 30.1 TWh by 2030. 

8. Are there any incentive mechanisms/business models in place to support the production of hydrogen?

Yes. Morocco has put in place several incentive mechanisms and economic models aimed at supporting foreign investment in Morocco (across sectors) through the Investment Charter.

The Investment Charter sets out two main incentive schemes applicable to green hydrogen projects (among others):

The main regime  

A project is eligible for common incentives, territorial incentives and sectoral incentives if it meets one of the following conditions:

• the investment amount is equal to or greater than 50 million dirhams; or
• the project  creates a minimum of 150 permanent jobs. 

Depending on eligibility (common, territorial and sectoral components), the total support may amount to 30% of eligible investment expenditure. 

The specific regime 

The Investment Charter introduces specific incentives for major strategic investment projects. Specific measures may include special negotiations with the government on tax, financial, or administrative incentives tailored to the strategic nature of the project.

For these purposes, a major strategic investment project is a project which is worth MAD 2 billion (approx. EUR 200 million) or more and which satisfies at least one of the following conditions: 

• It effectively contributes to ensuring Morocco's security in terms of water, energy, food or health.
• It directly or indirectly creates a significant number of jobs.
• It has a considerable impact on Morocco's economic influence and strategic positioning at regional, continental or international level.
• It has a knock-on effect on the development of sectoral ecosystems or sectoral activities.
• It contributes significantly to the development and use of cutting-edge technologies.

Green hydrogen-related projects could be classified as strategic under the Investment Charter if they satisfy one of the above conditions and could therefore be eligible for the specific measures mentioned above.

9. Are there any standards in place for the classification and/or certification of low-carbon or renewable hydrogen?

No. That being said, workshops are currently being organised in Morocco to bring the classification and certification of green hydrogen in Morocco closer towards convergence with European regulatory standards, namely the RFNBO (Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin) standards under the European RED II / RED III Directives. 

10. Does the regulatory framework clearly define the regulatory requirements relating to the production, storage, transportation or supply of hydrogen?

No. Morocco does not yet have a specific regulatory framework that clearly defines the regulatory requirements relating to the production, storage, transportation or supply of hydrogen. 

11. Are there any foreign investment restrictions related to energy and infrastructure sectors?

There are no foreign investment restrictions specific to the renewable energy sector in Morocco; foreign companies may own renewable energy projects without a local-partner requirement. 

However, mandatory state participation applies in the hydrocarbons sector: the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) holds a mandatory 25% stake in hydrocarbon projects.

12. What international treaties are in place that may offer protection to international investors in hydrogen projects in the jurisdiction?

The following international treaties currently in force may offer legal protection to international investors, including in relation to hydrogen projects in Morocco.

Multilateral investment conventions and dispute settlement mechanisms

• ICSID Convention

This convention established the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), a multilateral mechanism allowing foreign investors to submit disputes with host states to an independent international arbitration tribunal.

It allows investors to take dispute resolution outside the Moroccan judicial system alone and to initiate international arbitration proceedings.

• New York Convention

The United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards facilitates the recognition and enforcement of international arbitral awards in signatory states. It enables arbitral decisions to be enforced against states or local entities and is essential for ensuring the practical effect of the protections offered (eg ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC).

• Convention establishing the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

MIGA is a World Bank Group organisation that provides guarantees against political and non-commercial risks (expropriation, transfer restrictions, political violence). Morocco is a member, so foreign investors can obtain multilateral guarantees for their projects, including in the energy sector.

Bilateral investment treaties (BITs)

Morocco has signed numerous BITs with other countries. The BITs currently in force typically contain protections such as fair and equitable treatment, most-favoured-nation clause, access to international arbitration, protection against expropriation without fair compensation, etc.

For foreign investors, a BIT in force between their country of origin and Morocco provides a solid basis for recourse in the event of unfavourable measures.

Market developments and opportunities

13. Are there any government grants or other government funding available to hydrogen projects (including for research and development)?

No. The only incentives are those provided by the Investment Charter and the Morocco H2 Offer mentioned above (VAT exemptions on imports, customs duty exemptions, investment grants). There are no other government grants or other government funding available for hydrogen projects.

14. Are there any notable pilot/demonstration projects in place or planned for the production or offtake of clean hydrogen?

Yes. Morocco is very active in green hydrogen pilot projects. In particular, the flagship Power to Hydrogen (PtX) project, developed by MASEN, is expected to begin operations in 2026. It aims to produce 10 000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year from a solar/wind power plant and a desalination unit.

It should be noted that the Morocco H2 Offer explicitly states that MASEN is not permitted to develop green hydrogen projects on an industrial scale. 

Also, the partnership between UM6P, Chariot Green Hydrogen (a subsidiary of Chariot Limited) and Oort Energy is developing a pilot project using a PEM electrolyser of approximately 1 MW to produce green hydrogen from renewable energies.

15. Are there any commercial-scale clean hydrogen production projects in development or already operating?

Yes. Morocco has several commercial-scale clean hydrogen production projects in development, though they are not yet operational.

On 6 March 2025, the Steering Committee preselected the following projects, as part of the Morocco H2 Offer: 

• a consortium of Ortus, Acciona and Nordex for the development of a large-scale green ammonia project; 
• a consortium of Taqa and Moeve (formerly Cepsa) for the development of a green ammonia and synthetic fuel project;
• Acwa Power for the development of a green steel production project; 
• Nareva for the development of a green ammonia, synthetic fuel and green steel project; and 
• a consortium of UEG and China Three Gorges for the development of a green ammonia project. 

On 2 February 2026, the Government signed with these consortiums preliminary contracts of land reservation under the Morocco H2 Offer.

The Chbika project is another example of a flagship project currently under way in Morocco. Co-developed by TE H2 (a joint venture between TotalEnergies and EREN Groupe), Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and A.P. Moller Capital, this project aims to produce annually approximately 200 000 tonnes of green ammonia. The preliminary contract of land reservation was signed on 28 October 2024, under the presidency of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron. This agreement authorises the consortium to launch pre‑FEED and preliminary design studies and marks the first phase of a broader development programme intended to establish a world‑class green hydrogen production hub in the Guelmim‑Oued Noun region.

16. Have there been any hydrogen-related disputes in your jurisdiction? 

No. We are not aware of any hydrogen-related disputes in our jurisdiction.

Other author: Salwa El Ouardirhi, Associate

Last updated February 2026