Chariot submits feasibility update on 10 GW green hydrogen project in Mauritania

Africa-focused transitional energy group Chariot on Monday announced the completion of a feasibility study into a large-scale green hydrogen project “Project Nour” in Mauritania.

Project Nour is equally owned through a partnership between Chariot’s fully owned subsidiary Chariot Green Hydrogen and TE H2, a company co-owned by TotalEnergies and EREN Group, and is being developed with the support of Mauritania’s Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines. The company said it had presented the outcome of the study to the Government of Mauritania.

Focus on green steel and green ammonia

The feasibility study aims to provide further definition of the scale and viability of the project, building on the Pre-Feasibility Study completed in 2022 which confirmed that with up to 10 GW of electrolysis installed, Project Nour could become one of the largest green hydrogen projects globally.  The study confirmed the project’s global potential and outlined the first phase planning for domestic offtake and export development for green steel production and export of green ammonia.

“With the completion of the feasibility study of Project Nour, Mauritania has just taken an important step forward on the path to realising its green hydrogen ambitions,” H.E. Nani Chrougha, Mauritanian Minister of Petroleum, Mines and Energy, said in a statement.

Phased development

“We are fully committed to the development of this sector, and our aim is to be the largest producer and exporter of hydrogen on the African continent and we believe that Project Nour could support this objective. We are pleased to have recently received considerable, high-level support from the European Commission, with Mauritania being selected as a key partner in the EU's Global Gateway initiative for future hydrogen exports and green steel production. This highlights opportunities that will be mutually beneficial in the long term. Our will is firm to continue to coordinate with our partners and encourage the industry through the development of major energy projects such as Nour,” the minister said.

The project intends to execute a phased development with a first phase renewable capacity of 3 GW, powering up to 1.6 GW of electrolysis capacity, to produce 150 kt of green hydrogen per annum. Other highlights of the project include:

• Geographical proximity to Europe and existing deep-sea port at Nouadhibou provides favorable export options
• Sustainable economic development with local content plan aimed at maximizing employment and business opportunities in Mauritania
• Completed in compliance with Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards
• Next steps include completion of investment framework, engineering conceptual study and offtake negotiations

“This Feasibility Study further corroborates how important this project stands to be within the context of the future green hydrogen market,” said Laurent Coche, Chariot Green Hydrogen CEO.

“Nour’s size and scale has the potential to have a material impact both as a domestic and export producer and we are 2  proud to have set the development along this path. With TE H2 and the Government we will continue to look at how best to bring it into production to maximise value in the near and long term for the benefit of all stakeholders.”