Mauritania Bags $1.5bn for New Green Ammonia Project

In a move set to reshape Africa’s renewable energy landscape, Mauritania has signed a $1.5 billion framework agreement for one of the continent’s largest green ammonia plants. 

The deal, finalised by hydrogen developer Hynfra through its subsidiary Mauritania Green Ammonia (MGA), follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed last year and ushers in the next stage of what promises to be a landmark project.

The plant will rise near the Somelev wind farm, south of Nouakchott, harnessing the region’s abundant solar irradiation and steady winds. 

The plant, scheduled to begin operations in 2030, aims to produce around 100,000 tonnes of green ammonia each year, with shipments leaving through Port de l’Amitié, the country’s main harbour. 

The facility will draw on both solar and wind power, using electrolysers to convert renewable energy into ammonia, and will include supporting infrastructure such as water desalination, energy storage, and dedicated export facilities.

For Tomoho Umeda, Hynfra’s President and General Director of MGA, the project is a rare convergence of geography and expertise. 

“Mauritania, thanks to the combination of high solar irradiation and strong, stable winds, has some of the best conditions in the world for the development of renewable energy,” he said. 

He added that, combined with “a century of Polish experience in ammonia synthesis, the project creates a unique opportunity to build a project of global significance.”

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Mauritania is becoming a hub for green hydrogen, drawing big companies like CWP Global, TotalEnergies, Masdar, and GM Hydrogen seeking to develop projects using its abundant renewable energy.

However, developers acknowledge challenges. Long-term demand for green ammonia remains uncertain, and even large-scale initiatives like CWP’s 30 GW renewables project have faced questions about buyer commitment.

Despite these hurdles, the Mauritania green ammonia project benefits from the country’s 2024 Hydrogen Code, described as “one of the most advanced legislative frameworks worldwide,” offering a regulatory backbone to support investment. 

The project will proceed through feasibility studies, followed by Front-End Engineering Design (FEED), environmental assessments, and permitting expected by 2028.

The $1.5 billion Mauritania green ammonia project shows the country’s ambition to become a renewable energy link between Africa and Europe. 

By using its natural resources alongside international expertise, it promises jobs, economic growth, and a leading role in Africa’s shift to low-carbon energy. More than just a plant, it signals that Mauritania—and Africa—can turn renewable potential into real industrial projects.

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