Feasibility study confirms scale and viability of 10GW hydrogen project in Mauritania

Home Hydrogen Feasibility study confirms scale and viability of 10GW hydrogen project in Mauritania

March 11, 2024,
by

Ajsa Habibic

Africa-focused transitional energy group Chariot has completed the feasibility study for Project Nour, a proposed 10 GW hydrogen project in Mauritania, further confirming its scale and viability.

Courtesy of Chariot

The large-scale hydrogen project is being developed through a partnership between Cahriot’s fully-owned subsidiary Chariot Green Hydrogen and TE H2, a company co-owned by TotalEnergies and EREN Group. Mauritania’s Ministry of Petroleum, Energy, and Mines is also supporting the development of Project Nour.

Building on the pre-feasibility study concluded in 2022 which confirmed that with up to 10 GW of electrolysis installed the project could become one of the largest of its kind globally, the feasibility study has now been presented to the Government of Mauritania.

With the completed feasibility study, Chariot intends to execute a phased development with a first-phase renewable capacity of 3 GW, powering up to 1.6 GW of electrolysis capacity, to produce 150 kilotons of green hydrogen per annum.

The produced hydrogen would be used domestically for green steel production and export of green ammonia, benefiting from Project Nour’s geographical proximity to Nouadhibou (Mauritania’s deep-sea port) and to large European markets, with the potential to make Mauritania one of the world’s main producers and exporters of green hydrogen.

Looking forward, the next steps for the project include the completion of the investment framework, engineering conceptual study, and offtake negotiations.

Minister Nani Chrougha of the Mauritanian Ministry of Petroleum, Mines, and Energy, commented on the development: “With the completion of the feasibility study of Project Nour, Mauritania has just taken an important step forward on the path to realising its green hydrogen ambitions. We are fully committed to the development of this sector, our aim is to be the largest producer and exporter of hydrogen on the African continent and we believe that Project Nour could support this objective.

“We are pleased to have recently received considerable, high-level support from the European Commission, with Mauritania being selected as a key partner in the EU’s Global Gateway initiative for future hydrogen exports and green steel production. This highlights opportunities that will be mutually beneficial in the long term. Our will is firm to continue to coordinate with our partners and encourage the industry through the development of major energy projects such as Nour.”

Laurent Coche, Chariot Green Hydrogen CEO, said: “This Feasibility Study further corroborates how important this project stands to be within the context of the future green hydrogen market. Nour’s size and scale has the potential to have a material impact both as a domestic and export producer and we are proud to have set the development along this path. With TE H2 and the Government we will continue to look at how best to bring it into production to maximise value in the near and long term for the benefit of all stakeholders.”