The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has awarded a grant to the ORNX consortium to finance a preliminary engineering study for its green ammonia production facility in Laayoune, marking a significant step forward for one of Morocco’s flagship green energy projects.

The agreement was signed in Laayoune by USTDA Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer Thomas Hardy and ORNX Chief Executive Officer Peter A. Gish, in the presence of U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Duke Buchan III and senior Moroccan and American officials.

The grant will fund the technical studies required to advance the project, which is being developed through a partnership between Moroccan and U.S. companies. The engineering study is expected to accelerate the project’s implementation and facilitate the mobilization of financing for its construction.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ambassador Buchan described the agreement as a landmark milestone, noting that it represents the first U.S. government funding provided to a private-sector project in the Moroccan Sahara. He highlighted the strength of Morocco–U.S. relations and reaffirmed Washington’s support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the basis for a lasting solution to the regional dispute.

Thomas Hardy emphasized that the initiative reflects USTDA’s commitment to supporting Morocco’s sustainable economic growth by fostering partnerships between American and Moroccan companies in strategic infrastructure projects.

Mohamed Amine Belhaj, Director of Economic Diplomacy at Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, noted that the agreement comes as Morocco and the United States celebrate the 250th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. He stressed that the project demonstrates the growing momentum of bilateral cooperation in energy, technology, and investment.

Selected by the Moroccan government under the Kingdom’s national green hydrogen strategy, the ORNX consortium is developing a large-scale green ammonia production project in Laayoune. The initiative is expected to strengthen Morocco’s position as a regional hub for clean energy while supporting industrial development, attracting investment, and creating jobs.