bp has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Mauritania under which it will explore the potential for large-scale production of green hydrogen in the country.

The agreement, signed in a meeting alongside COP27, could be an important step towards the development of significant green hydrogen production in Mauritania.

Under the agreement, bp will carry out a number of studies to evaluate the technical and commercial feasibility of producing green hydrogen in Mauritania. Green hydrogen is produced by the electrolysis of water, powered by renewable energy.

bp will initially carry out a data collection campaign with studies assessing the suitability of the wind and solar resources in selected locations for large-scale renewable power generation and green hydrogen production.

Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath, bp’s executive vice president of gas and low carbon energy, said: “We are already developing one of the world’s most innovative gas projects with the support of the Mauritanian government.

“And we now intend to expand our partnership into low carbon energy by exploring the potential for a world-leading green hydrogen development, which could position Mauritania at the forefront of the energy transition.

“Together with the Mauritanian Government, we will now work to understand how green hydrogen could best be delivered, applying our technical skills and expertise to help unlock the country’s clean energy potential.”

bp and partners, including Mauritania’s Société Mauritanienne Des Hydrocarbures (SMH), are working toward the completion of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) Phase 1 liquefied natural gas project.

The development of the offshore project on the border of Mauritania and Senegal was approved in 2018.  It is set to produce around 2.3 million tonnes of LNG per year, with sufficient resources to support production for over 20 years. Earlier this year, bp also announced the signature of an Exploration and Production Sharing Contract for the BirAllah gas resource in Mauritania.