Set to be scaled in stages up to 1GW, the industrial plant is expected to produce 140,000 tonnes of green hydrogen and 400,000 tonnes of green ammonia per year from 2029.

Around 500km² has been allocated for the first phase, with the site expandable to 1,600km² on terrain that “offers the best solar and wind conditions” for renewable energy.

Möhring will begin developing the plant with a smaller 100MW “fast-track” stage.

The German energy and engineering group inked a strategic framework agreement to develop the Nayrah project with the Mauritanian government.

The green ammonia produced in southern Mauritania will be used for export into European markets.

“Mauritania has excellent conditions for generating wind and solar power – the basis for globally competitive green molecules,” explained Sascha Möhring, CTO and founder of Möhring.

Since 2021, Möhring has focused on power-to-x projects and is reportedly developing green hydrogen and ammonia projects in Morocco and Brazil, too.

Other companies, including CWP Global, TotalEnergies, Masdar and GM Hydrogen, are also pursuing projects in Mauritania.

However, a study published earlier this year said that African-made green hydrogen exports to Europe would be largely unviable without substantial EU de-risking, despite the continent hosting immense potential for low-cost production.