bp today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Mauritania under which it will deliver an innovative program exploring the potential for large-scale production of green hydrogen in the country. Building on bp’s existing strong relationships with the country, the agreement could be an important step toward the development of significant green hydrogen production in Mauritania. - bp

The MoU was signed today in a meeting alongside COP27, by the President of Mauritania, His Excellency Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, H.E. Abdessalam Ould Mohamed Saleh, Minister of Petroleum, Mines and Energy for the Government of Mauritania, bp’s chief executive Bernard Looney, bp’s executive vice president of gas and low carbon energy, Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath, bp’s executive vice president of production and operations Gordon Birrell and bp’s senior vice president for Mauritania and Senegal Emil Ismayilov. 

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.  

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.

Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath, bp’s executive vice president of gas and low carbon 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.   

The development of this innovative 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.   

Hydrogen is one of bp’s five energy transition growth engines.

Globally, bp is working on a significant and growing portfolio of options for the development of green and blue hydrogen projects in advantaged markets worldwide, including developments in the UK, Netherland, Germany, Spain, Middle East, US and Australia. 

It recently acquired a 40.5% equity stake and operatorship of the Asian Renewable Energy Hub (AREH), which has the potential to be one of the largest renewables and green hydrogen hubs in the world.