Africa-focused transitional energy group, Chariot, has completed the Feasibility Study for the large-scale green hydrogen project 'Project Nour' in Mauritania and has passed it on to the Government of Mauritania for reviewing
The Government shares equal ownership on the project with Chariot-owned Chariot Green Hydrogen and a TotalEnergies-EREN Group venture TE H2, with the support of Mauritania’s Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines.
The Pre-Feasibility Study that was completed in 2022 planned the Project Nour on a global scale, with an objective to instal up to 10 GW of electrolysis. The stakeholders have considered a phased approach, with a goal of hitting 3 GW renewable capacity in the first phase, powering up to 1.6 GW of electrolysis capacity, to produce 150 kt of green hydrogen per annum. The project can potentially open up opportunities domestically through green steel production as well as tap into the export market for green ammonia.
The Project Nour has been holistically designed as it keeps in mind promoting local employment and business opportunities in the country while extracting the strategic advantage of the deep-sea port at Nouadhibou to extend export relations with Europe.
Completed in compliance with Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards, stakeholders now aim to complete investment framework, engineering conceptual study and offtake negotiations.
Minister Nani Chrougha of the Mauritanian Ministry of Petroleum, Mines and Energy, commented, "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. We are fully committed to the development of this sector, 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."
Laurent Coche, Chariot Green Hydrogen CEO, said, "This Feasibility Study further corroborates how important this project stands to be within the context of the future green hydrogen market. Nour’s size and scale has the potential to have a material impact both as a domestic and export producer and we are 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."
