Another hydrogen economy study gets the greenlight

Contract awarded

MAURITANIA: As interest in developing national ambitions within the green hydrogen market intensifies, Mauritania has become the latest African country to commission a consultancy to undertake a feasibility study to map the country’s potential to position itself as a hub for green hydrogen production.

The GFA Consulting Group (GFA) GmbH has won a bid issued by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH to commence a 21-month study that will map Mauritania’s political, legal, institutional, and technical framework to manage large-scale investments in this sector and to ensure that the local population benefits from its development.

The project seeks to improve the enabling framework for the green hydrogen sector by enhancing governance capacities, supporting human capital and private sector development, and ensuring environmental and social safeguards.

It will ultimately contribute to Mauritania's National Roadmap for the Development of a Low-Carbon Hydrogen Industry and supports the Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (SCAPP 2016-2030). Mauritania holds vast renewable energy potential but lacks the regulatory framework and technical expertise to manage large-scale hydrogen initiatives.

As such, GFA will be concentrating on key areas of intervention including:

1. Regulatory and institutional strengthening - Support to ministries and inter-ministerial structures in implementing the national hydrogen roadmap, developing laws, standards, and governance instruments, and improving coordination with international partners.

2. Human capital and local private sector development - Establishment of training models aligned with hydrogen sector needs, support to vocational institutions and SMEs, and promotion of inclusive economic participation, especially for women and youth.

3. Environmental and social integration - Strengthening the capacity of the Ministry of Environment and other actors to conduct environmental and social assessments, engage local communities, and develop benefit-sharing mechanisms.

Learning from previous national studies

GFA has been active on the continent and been involved in both South Africa’s and Namibia’s plans to position themselves within the green hydrogen space. Contracted to GIZ on several other projects, GFA has produced reports for an overall project: Promoting the Development of a Hydrogen Economy for South Africa (H2.SA) as well as a report assessing the skills gaps within Namibia’s green hydrogen and renewable energy sectors.

Developed in collaboration with the Namibia Training Authority (NTA), the Promotion of Vocational Education and Training (ProTVET) Project, the reports provide evidence-based recommendations, curriculum evaluations, and international benchmarking. Together, they aim to establish a strategic basis for strengthening Namibia’s TVET system to meet the demands of the GH₂ and RE value chains.

Engagement within the South African green hydrogen has been vast with the aim to pave the way for the development of the South African H2 PtX market for the production of renewable H2 and its derivatives in a sustainable manner, as well as for their future export to international markets, thus bringing sustainable benefits to the South African society and economy. Services provided by GFA:

◼︎ Site mapping of suitable sites for H2/PtX production with a focus on export opportunities
◼︎ Pre-feasibility studies for selected H2/PtX lighthouse projects
◼︎ Environmental and Social Impacts of Green Hydrogen Projects in South Africa
◼︎ Handbook "How to do an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for H2/ PtX projects in South Africa

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