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Fertiglobe, an OCI NV-ADNOC joint venture and the largest producer of nitrogen fertilisers in the Middle East, and its partners, Scatec, The Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) and Orascom Construction have selected New York-based Plug Power as the technology provider for a green hydrogen project in Ain Sokhna, Egypt.
The ADX-listed company said in a statement that Plug Power would supply the electrolyser technology for a 100-megawatt green hydrogen facility to be built at the Egyptian Basic Industries Corporation’s (EBIC) facility in Ain Sokhna.
The green hydrogen would be used as feedstock for up to 90,000 tonnes of green ammonia production at EBIC, Fertiglobe said in a stock exchange statement on Wednesday.
Green ammonia, produced from renewable energy such as solar and wind instead of natural gas, can serve as a carrier fuel to store and transport hydrogen, and is an important alternative fuel in the power sector in Japan and other countries.
Fertiglobe’s production capacity comprises of 6.7 million tonnes of urea and merchant ammonia, produced at four subsidiaries in the UAE, Egypt and Algeria.
The statement said the 100 MW PEM (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane) electrolyser will be the largest independently owned facility globally when it comes online.
Egypt’s renewables profile with strong solar and wind loads, and proximity to markets with a hydrogen deficit makes it an ideal location to produce green hydrogen, the statement said.
Nassef Sawiris, Executive Chairman of OCI NV, said the project would be the largest green hydrogen and largest green ammonia application globally.
“Construction is expected to follow an accelerated schedule to showcase the green hydrogen facility during COP 27 in Egypt in November 2022, highlighting Egypt’s and Fertiglobe’s growing leadership in the renewable energy markets and commitment to a greener future.”
Ahmed El-Hoshy, Chief Executive Officer of Fertiglobe, said the project is “a huge step forward” in the company’s 2050 net zero ambition.
Andy Marsh, CEO, Plug Power said the company continues to look globally to establish meaningful partnerships in the green hydrogen space
TSFE’s CEO Ayman Soliman said the green hydrogen project reflects its alignment towards realising the goals of Egypt’s 2030 vision, which embraces the principle of a green economy as a fundamental element of the comprehensive development process.
Scatec CEO Raymond Carlsen said the selection of Plug Power as technology provider to the 100 MW hydrogen facility is a key milestone for the project and helps moving the green agenda forward in Egypt.
(Writing by SA Kader; Editing by Anoop Menon)
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