For our December episode of Ammonia Project Features, we welcomed Alzbeta Klein (International Fertilizer Association) and Tarek Hosny (Fertiglobe). Our speakers discussed a pathway forward for Egypt’s fertilizer industry to decarbonize, presented the newly-commissioned Egypt Green Hydrogen project, and outlined the unique advantages (and challenges) of developing renewable production projects in Egypt.

The number of renewable hydrogen-based projects planned for the Suez Canal Economic Zone has now reached fifteen. Of the seven new MoUs signed in late August, four are targeting renewable ammonia production. Saudi-based alfanar, African energy developer Globeleq, Mediterranean Energy Partners and renewable energy developer Actis are all planning renewable ammonia production plants, with ACME Group also signing an MoU for a multi-million tonne renewable hydrogen plant in the SCZONE.

India-based ReNew Power and the SCZONE have signed an agreement to develop a new, $8 billion, million-tonne-per-year renewable ammonia production plant near Ain Sokhna in Egypt. The first phase, producing 100,000 tonnes per year of renewable ammonia, is targeted for completion between 2023 and 2025.

Total has signed a new MoU with the General Authority for Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) to develop a renewable ammonia project in Ain Sokhna, Egypt. The first phase targets production of 300,000 tonnes of renewable ammonia per year. SCZONE is now involved with six renewable hydrogen-based projects near the Suez Canal totaling more than $10 billion in investment, and featuring about 1.5 million tonnes of renewable ammonia production in the first phase (expanding to at least 6 million tonnes per year).

A series of new announcements illustrates the growing importance of Egypt, the Suez Gulf and the area designated the Suez Canal Economic Zone to the ammonia energy transition:

• Masdar and a series of public & private partners plan a 4 GW electrolyser capacity, 2.3 million tonnes per year renewable ammonia export project in Ain Sokhna, with the first stage to focus on methanol production for bunker fuel.
• The General Authority for Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) has signed deals for two smaller maritime fuel production plants, one with French organisation EDF Renewables and the other with UAE-based EMEA Power.
• And Maersk will explore potential for large-scale green maritime fuel production near the Suez Canal, committing to off take in a new deal with SCZONE and government partners.