Summary:

On 5 February 2026, TAQA Morocco and Spanish firm Moeve signed a preliminary land reservation agreement with the Moroccan government for a green hydrogen project in Dakhla, Western Sahara, a territory under Moroccan control. The agreement allows the companies to advance feasibility studies, environmental assessments, and permitting as part of Rabat’s “Morocco Offer” for green hydrogen development. 

TAQA Morocco will supply renewable energy infrastructure at the Dakhla site, while Moeve is set to lead e-fuels production and marketing, likely at the Port of Jorf Lasfar. The project is linked to broader Moroccan plans for infrastructure and industry expansion, including the Dakhla Atlantique deepwater port, which is being built to handle large-scale energy exports. 

The agreement raises legal and ethical concerns, drawing critiques of Morocco’s lack of any international legal title over Western Sahara, and projects there, theoretically, requiring the consent of the Sahrawi people. Western Sahara Resource Watch, an organization explicitly working to counter Moroccan policies in Western Sahara, has highlighted the risk that such projects could “normalise and entrench the occupation” by tying foreign investment and long-term infrastructure to contested territory. 

Outlook: 

While this project aligns with Morocco’s broader ambition to become a leading green hydrogen exporter, uncertainty about the legal issues around these activities could expose the projects to backlash.  

Although Morocco’s control over Western Sahara is a reality on the ground, international recognition of Morocco’s claims remains a divisive issue. 

This latest deal announcement creates additional potential for disputes over the rights of the Sahrawi people and increases the risk of political, legal, and reputational challenges that could affect implementation and foreign participation. 

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