Morocco’s Ports as Gateways to Green Hydrogen and the Future of Clean Shipping

The report argues that Morocco’s ports, led by Tanger Med and supported by industrial and energy hubs along the Atlantic coast, could become key nodes in the global green hydrogen economy by supplying clean fuels to shipping, industry, and European export markets. By integrating low-cost hydrogen production, shared infrastructure, and clear regulation, Morocco could turn its renewable energy advantage into a strategic position in the decarbonization of maritime transport and heavy industry.

Prepared by the World Bank together with Morocco’s Ministry of Equipment and Water, the Direction des Ports et du Domaine Public Maritime, and Royal HaskoningDHV, with contributions from Masen, IRESEN, the National Ports Agency, and the Tanger Med Special Agency, Gateway to Green Energy argues that Morocco’s ports could play a decisive role in the global transition to clean fuels. The report places Morocco at the intersection of two major global shifts: the push to decarbonize international shipping and the rapid emergence of green hydrogen as a cornerstone of the low-carbon industry. Thanks to abundant wind and solar resources, long coastlines, modern ports, and proximity to Europe, Morocco is well-positioned to become a competitive producer, user, and exporter of green hydrogen and its derivatives.

Why Shipping Is Driving Demand for Green Hydrogen

International shipping is under growing pressure to cut emissions, with the International Maritime Organization committing the sector to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by around 2050. Because large ocean-going vessels cannot easily be electrified, hydrogen-based fuels such as green ammonia and green methanol are expected to dominate future marine fuel markets. European regulations, including the EU Emissions Trading System and FuelEU Maritime, are accelerating this shift by making fossil fuels increasingly expensive for ships calling at European ports. The report shows that Morocco, and especially Tanger Med at the Strait of Gibraltar, could capture significant demand as ships look for reliable locations to refuel with low-carbon fuels along major trade routes.

Three Markets: Ships, Industry, and Exports

The report identifies three main sources of demand for green hydrogen produced in Morocco. The first is bunkering for international shipping, with Tanger Med emerging as the country’s most important future hub. By mid-century, ships calling at Moroccan ports or passing nearby could require close to three million tons of hydrogen equivalent each year. The second market is the domestic industry. Fertilizer production at Jorf Lasfar, potential green steel manufacturing, refining, power generation, and eventually aviation fuels all require hydrogen to decarbonize. The third market is export, mainly to Europe, which is expected to import large volumes of green hydrogen because it lacks sufficient renewable energy resources. Depending on global market conditions, Morocco could export several million tons of hydrogen equivalent annually by 2050.

Each Port Has a Different Role to Play

A key message of the report is that no single Moroccan port is suited to handle the entire green hydrogen value chain on its own. Tanger Med is ideal for bunkering ships but has limited space for large hydrogen production facilities. Mohammedia, located near Casablanca, benefits from nearby salt caverns that can store hydrogen at low cost, but it faces safety and land-use constraints due to its urban surroundings. Jorf Lasfar stands out as a major industrial port with long experience handling ammonia and serving fertilizer and steel industries, making it well-suited for industrial hydrogen use. The Tan-Tan region, by contrast, offers the lowest hydrogen production costs in Morocco thanks to exceptional wind and solar resources, but would require major new infrastructure and workforce development.

A Connected Vision for Morocco’s Hydrogen Future

To bring these strengths together, the report proposes an integrated “Lighthouse Scenario.” In this vision, green hydrogen is produced at scale near Tan-Tan, transported by pipeline to Mohammedia for storage, distributed to Jorf Lasfar for industrial use, and supplied to Tanger Med for bunkering ships, while exports depart from suitable Atlantic ports. This coordinated approach lowers overall costs and reduces investment risks. The report stresses that strong regulation, shared infrastructure, and early pilot projects are essential to make this vision a reality. A proposed green bunkering pilot at Tanger Med later this decade would help Morocco gain practical experience and signal credibility to global shipping lines. If these steps are taken, the report concludes, Morocco’s ports could become central players in a new global clean-energy trade, supporting both climate goals and long-term economic development.