- Morocco’s ports could soon become key hubs for clean energy exports and green hydrogen fueling.
- European plans under the “REPowerEU” strategy also boost Morocco’s prospects.
Morocco’s ports could soon become key hubs for clean energy exports and green hydrogen fueling, particularly as the world strives to reduce carbon emissions in shipping, according to a new international report led by the World Bank.
The report, prepared in collaboration with international partners and Morocco’s Ministry of Equipment and Water, examines how global climate policies are transforming maritime transport.
With the European Union and the International Maritime Organisation pushing for full decarbonisation of shipping by 2050, demand for fuels based on green hydrogen is expected to surge.
Shipping companies will need cleaner alternatives fast, and ports that can supply them will be in high demand.
This is where Morocco comes in as the World Bank highlights the country’s strong position thanks to its proximity to Europe, its vast coastline, and its ability to produce low-cost renewable energy from wind and solar.
These advantages make Morocco well placed to produce green hydrogen and export it using its existing port infrastructure.
Each port, the report notes, has its own strengths and could play a specific role in this emerging energy system.
European plans under the “REPowerEU” strategy also boost Morocco’s prospects. The EU aims to import millions of tons of green hydrogen by 2030, and maritime transport is expected to be a steady source of demand.
Ships docking at or passing through Moroccan ports may increasingly rely on hydrogen-based fuels in the years to come.
By 2030, vessels calling at Moroccan ports could need significant volumes of green hydrogen, based on current shipping traffic, fleet growth forecasts, and the gradual switch to cleaner fuels.
Tanger Med is expected to lead this shift. As the only Moroccan port currently offering commercial bunkering services, it already handles around 1.6 million tons of fossil marine fuel.
Over time, it could capture a large share of the new green fuel market. Other ports may also benefit, especially due to heavy transit through the Strait of Gibraltar and along the Atlantic coast.
The report identifies three main markets for green hydrogen: maritime shipping, domestic industry, and exports to Europe. By mid-century, shipping alone could require nearly three million tons of hydrogen equivalent each year, linked to Moroccan ports.
Morocco has already started laying the groundwork. It released its Green Hydrogen Roadmap in 2021, followed by a more detailed Green Hydrogen Offer in 2024.
The World Bank says that green hydrogen could reshape global trade and energy value chains. For Morocco, it opens the door to becoming not just a producer but a regional supplier of clean energy in a rapidly changing world.