Germany Backs Morocco’s OCP Green Hydrogen Plant with $32 Million

February 21, 2025

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(North Africa Post) Germany is backing Morocco’s green hydrogen production with a $32 million (€30 million) investment in OCP Group’s green hydrogen plant in Jorf. The funding by the German PtX Development Fund is intended to support sustainable fertilizer manufacturing, according to German media reports.

The PtX Development Fund, endowed with a budget of €270 million, is initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and managed by KGAL Investment Management on behalf of KfW. KfW PtX program supports hydrogen projects in Global South countries to accelerate industrial decarbonization and foster the development of low-carbon value chains.

Germany’s investment will support Hydrojeel, a subsidiary of Morocco’s OCP Group. The facility will be powered by solar and wind energy, producing green hydrogen that will be converted into ammonia—an essential component for fertilizers and the chemical industry.

The Jorf Hydrogen Platform aims to produce 100,000 tons of green ammonia annually by the end of 2026, potentially preventing 300,000 tons of CO₂ emissions. This platform is a cornerstone of the OCP Group’s green ammonia program, which targets 1 million tons by 2027 and 3 million tons by 2032, nearly 2% of the global ammonia demand, and thus accelerate the transition to low-carbon fertilizer solutions.

Ammonia is a key ingredient in global food production, but its conventional production is highly carbon-intensive. The Jorf Hydrogen Platform addresses this challenge by using green hydrogen to establish a low-carbon fertilizer supply chain, thereby reinforcing the OCP Group’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and industrial decarbonization.

The initiative is part of OCP’s broader “Green Ammonia Program” to attract multi-billion-dollar investments. The goal is to make fertilizer production more sustainable and reduce reliance on fossil-based ammonia imports from countries such as Russia and Belarus.

Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary in Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, highlighted that the funding will help Morocco build a sustainable industry, reducing dependence on fossil fuels while opening new opportunities for trade and technology exports, a press release from HydroJeel said. The funding will be channeled through the PtX Development Fund.

Germany is supporting the transition to green energy by helping Morocco establish a hydrogen economy that contributes to social equity.

The investment is a key component of the German-Moroccan Climate and Energy Alliance. Beyond financial support, the ministry is providing Morocco with expertise on hydrogen strategies, economic policy frameworks, and research and training in Power-to-X (PtX) technologies.

The press release highlighted that Morocco was chosen to benefit from the PtX grant due to its ideal geographic conditions for renewable energy, its strong potential in green hydrogen, and its ambitious and transparent economic strategies regarding hydrogen.

The Kingdom offers significant opportunities for the development of green economic sectors and the promotion of local value creation. Additionally, the existing priorities of German cooperation closely align with Morocco’s objectives, fostering synergies and complementary opportunities.

This grant represents a major step in the industrialization of green hydrogen production, positioning the Jorf Hydrogen Platform as a benchmark in sustainable ammonia production. By mobilizing global expertise and strategic funding, HydroJeel and the PtX Development Fund are accelerating the transition to industrial ecosystems based on clean energy, contributing to Morocco’s evolution towards a more sustainable energy future.

The grant agreement was officially signed this week by Amine Houssaim, CEO of HydroJeel and INNOVX, and Thomas Engelmann, managing director of the PtX Development Fund, in the presence of the Ambassador of Germany to Morocco, Robert Dölger, and the Director of KfW Morocco, Janne Rajpar, HydroJeel press release said. READ MORE

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HydroJeel awarded €30 million from PtX Development Fund to accelerate green ammonia production at Jorf Hydrogen Platform. (HydroJeel/Innovx)

Excerpt form Powr-to-X: The site is the Jorf industrial zone, around 100 kilometers south of Casablanca. In the next step, the energy source will be processed into green ammonia.

Hydrojeel was founded in February 2024 as a division of the Moroccan technology company Innovx SA, itself part of the private Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P). According to its own information, Innovx prevailed in the BMZ selection process against 98 other project proposals from seven countries. The "Jorf Hydrogen Platform" is being installed on behalf of the Moroccan Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP Group). The state-owned company is one of the world's largest manufacturers of phosphate products such as fertilizers and plans to produce 2026 tons of green ammonia annually from the end of 100.000. One year later, this figure should already be one million tons. According to Innovx, scaling up to three million tons is planned by 2032.

Morocco aims to provide around 2035 percent of the country's primary energy needs from renewable sources by 40. © KfW Development Bank

According to media reports, the OCP Group plans to invest 14 billion dollars in a "Green Ammonia Program" that will one day cover almost two percent of global ammonia demand. The green ammonia will primarily be processed into fertilizers that will help make food production in Morocco and other countries more climate-friendly and less dependent on imported fertilizers produced from fossil fuels, according to the BMZ. Until now, Russia and Belarus have been among the world's largest exporters of such fertilizers made from "gray" ammonia, which is mainly produced from natural gas.

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The federally owned Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) has made funds totaling EUR 2027 million available to promote Power-to-X markets in developing and emerging countries until the end of 270. KfW has founded Power-to-X D&G GmbH as the legal entity of the construct known simply as the "PtX Development Fund". KGAL Investment Management GmbH & Co. KG acts as fund manager.

Sustainable investments on an industrial scale that actively support local markets and the energy transition are eligible for funding. An "exclusion list" excludes, among other things, the promotion of fossil fuels and nuclear power as well as any conflicts over the use of water, land and electricity. A first investment by the PtX Development Fund was already signed in autumn 2024 as part of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference for an Egyptian hydrogen project.

Until 5 March 2025, companies – including German ones – can apply for the next round of funding from the Development Fund soon The maximum possible project funding is 30 million euros. READ MORE

Excerpt from HydroJeel/Innovx:

The grant agreement followed a rigorous selection process in which 98 expressions of interest from seven eligible countries were evaluated. Jorf Hydrogen Platform is the second project selected under the PtX Development Fund’s first call for proposals, highlighting its strategic role in scaling industrial green hydrogen production.

A key player in INNOVX’s energy portfolio, HydroJeel leads the Green Hydrogen & Green Ammonia Program. Its mission is to produce green hydrogen, green ammonia, and derivatives at scale, catering to OCP Group’s needs for sustainable plant nutrition solutions while also supplying international markets with competitive low-carbon products essential for the energy transition. Beyond production, HydroJeel is committed to industrial innovation and positions itself at the forefront of hydrogen solutions, with a clear ambition to develop a dynamic industrial ecosystem.

Jorf Hydrogen Platform: a flagship project for green ammonia production

Developed by HydroJeel on behalf of OCP Group, the Jorf Hydrogen Platform aims to produce 100,000 tons of green ammonia annually by the end of 2026. As a cornerstone of OCP Group’s broader Green Ammonia Program, the platform will help scale production to 1 million tons by 2027 and 3 million tons by 2032, accelerating the transition to low-carbon fertilizer solutions.

Ammonia is a critical component of global food production, yet its conventional manufacturing process is highly carbon-intensive. The Jorf Hydrogen Platform directly addresses this challenge by harnessing green hydrogen to establish a low-carbon fertilizer supply chain, reinforcing OCP Group’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and industrial decarbonization. By leveraging abundant renewable resources, UM6P’s cutting-edge R&D capabilities, and OCP Group’s strong production expertise, HydroJeel is laying the foundation for large-scale, cost-competitive green hydrogen production through this flagship project.

Tangible climate and economic impact

Beyond its contribution to the decarbonization of fertilizer production, Jorf Hydrogen Platform is expected to :

Reduce approximately 300,000 teq of CO₂ emissions ;
Create skilled jobs and develop expertise in green hydrogen and ammonia production ;
Establish technological partnerships with international providers, local research and education institutions ;

“This grant is a recognition of Hydrojeel’s expertise in green hydrogen solutions and a significant step forward in our journey. The Jorf Hydrogen Platform project reflects our commitment to driving sustainable energy practices while positioning Morocco as a regional leader in green hydrogen solutions, powering industries and playing an active role in the energy transition.” said Amine Houssaim - CEO of HydroJeel and INNOVX

“The Jorf Hydrogen Platform project impresses with a solid concept from an innovative project developer. HydroJeel has planned using state-of-the-art methods and all the risks – from development to offtake – have been considerably minimised.” explained Thomas Engelmann - Managing Director of the PtX Development Fund and Head of Energy Transition at KGAL.

“The HydroJeel team prioritized the social and environmental impact of Jorf Hydrogen Platform and this convinced us that it was the right project to support.” added Florian Ziegler - KfW Principal Portfolio Manager

PtX Development Fund: supporting global energy transition

Jorf Hydrogen Platform exemplifies the objectives of the PtX Development Fund, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and transitioning to clean energy production, contributing to the achievement of ambitious national and international climate goals. It will also improve cost structures and resilience by reducing Morocco’s dependence on fossil energy vectors.

Morocco among the selected countries as eligible for the PtX Development Fund

Morocco was selected for the PtX grant due to its ideal geographical conditions for renewable energy, its potential for green hydrogen production, and its ambitious and transparent economic strategies for hydrogen. The country offers significant opportunities for establishing green economic sectors and promoting local value creation. Additionally, existing priorities of German cooperation align well with Morocco’s goals, creating synergies and complementary opportunities.

This grant marks a significant milestone in the scale-up of industrial green hydrogen production, positioning the Jorf Hydrogen Platform as a benchmark for sustainable ammonia production.

By mobilizing global expertise and strategic funding, HydroJeel and the PtX Development Fund are accelerating the shift toward clean energy-driven industrial ecosystems, contributing to Morocco’s transition toward a more sustainable energy future.

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ABOUT HYDROJEEL

Hydrojeel, a business of INNOVX, develops green hydrogen and green ammonia solutions and builds integrated production ecosystems that support industrial decarbonization.

Focused on scalable and commercially viable technologies, HydroJeel develops, deploys, and scales tailored energy solutions to meet industrial needs, reinforcing its role as a key enabler of sustainable transformation.

Its flagship project, the Jorf Hydrogen Platform, is a green ammonia production hub designed to reduce reliance on fossil-based imports and accelerate the shift toward renewable energy-based industrial processes. By leveraging cutting-edge electrolysis and renewable integration, HydroJeel plays a key role in shaping the future of low-carbon industrial energy.

ABOUT INNOVX

INNOVX is dedicated to building high-performing businesses, investing in strategic ventures, and developing industrial ecosystems that drive sustainable growth and technological advancement in Morocco, Africa, and beyond.

With a focus on agriculture & water, energy, and chemicals, INNOVX creates and scales businesses that accelerate industrial transformation, invests in startups and specialized funds through equity stakes and acquisitions, and strengthens industrial ecosystems to foster innovation and long-term impact.

By pioneering the next industries, INNOVX plays a key role in shaping the future of sustainable and technology-driven industrial development.

For more information, visit innovx.ma

The German government and KfW Group have pooled promotional and financing instruments on the PtX Platform. Funding is provided for projects along the entire PtX value chain. The aim is to close existing financing gaps by promoting capital-intensive PtX projects that are not yet bankable, especially in developing and emerging economies. The coordination all takes place under one roof: KfW advises, puts together financing packages and accompanies the project implementation. At the heart of the platform lies the PtX Development Fund of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) whose aim is to support the establishment of local value chains and the use of hydrogen and its derivatives in targeted countries, paving the way for a more sustainable future. Thus, the fund contributes to the social, environmental and economic transformation of these countries as part of a “just transition”.

KfW PtX Platform: https://www.kfw-entwicklungsbank.de/Our-topics/PtX/PtX-platform/

PtX Development Fund: https://www.ptx-fund.com/ READ MORE