Duke Buchan III, U.S. Ambassador to Morocco, with Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA Deputy Director and Director of Operations, and Peter A. Gish, CEO of ORNX, during the signing ceremony on July 28, 2026, in Laâyoune.
ORNX Laayoune 1 SASU (ORNX) and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) have signed an agreement to fund a pre-front end engineering and design (pre-FEED) study supporting ORNX’s large-scale ammonia production project in Laâyoune, Morocco.
The agreement was signed in Laâyoune by Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA Deputy Director and Director of Operations, and Peter A. Gish, CEO of ORNX, in the presence of U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Duke Buchan III, alongside representatives of Moroccan public institutions, local authorities, the private sector, and civil society.
The USTDA grant marks an important milestone in the development of the ORNX project. The pre-FEED study will address key technical and commercial considerations required to advance the project toward the FEED stage and ultimately the Final Investment Decision.
ORNX has selected a consortium of leading U.S. companies, led by global engineering and technology firm Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) and including GE Vernova, Electric Hydrogen (EH2), and Terabase, to carry out the study.
The study will assess electrolyzer technology, including technology from EH2, evaluate power supply options, determine the optimal sizing and configuration of the plant’s industrial components, and develop detailed financial projections and business models.
Once operational, the facility is expected to have the capacity to produce up to 560,000 tonnes of ammonia per year, representing a significant industrial development opportunity for Morocco’s Southern Provinces.
Commenting on the agreement, Peter A. Gish, CEO of ORNX, said:
“We are very grateful to USTDA for its considerable support as we reach this important milestone for our ammonia project in Laayoune, Morocco. This funding will allow us to complete the pre-FEED studies with our partners KBR, GE Vernova, Electric Hydrogen, and Terabase, driving both the technical and commercial development of the project as we accelerate toward the FEED and Final Investment Decisions.”
The agreement reflects the growing cooperation between Moroccan and American companies in the fields of energy, technology, and infrastructure, bringing U.S. technology and expertise to the development of a major industrial project in Laâyoune.
The ORNX project is being developed within the framework of Morocco’s national green hydrogen strategy and aims to contribute to industrial development, investment, and job creation in the Southern Provinces, while supporting Morocco’s ambitions to strengthen its position as a regional energy and industrial hub.
The signing comes as Morocco and the United States celebrate 250 years of diplomatic relations, underscoring the longstanding strategic partnership and shared economic interests between the two countries.
ORNX looks forward to continuing its collaboration with USTDA, the U.S. Embassy in Morocco, and its American and Moroccan partners as the project advances toward the next stages of development.
