Casablanca – Morocco is moving forward with plans for a large-scale renewable synthetic fuel facility in the southern province of Tan-Tan after Swiss clean-energy company Synhelion signed a memorandum of understanding with several Moroccan government departments. The planned plant is expected to have an annual production capacity of 100,000 metric tons, adding a new industrial project to Morocco’s efforts to develop renewable fuels and hydrogen-related industries. 

The agreement, signed on September 8, involves the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, and the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE). Synhelion has also established a Moroccan subsidiary and secured a land reservation for the planned facility in Tan-Tan. 

The project is intended to produce renewable synthetic fuels that could be used in aviation, road transportation and other sectors. Synhelion’s technology is designed to manufacture synthetic fuels using renewable energy and biogenic waste. The company’s portfolio includes synthetic aviation fuel, diesel and gasoline. 

The planned production capacity of 100,000 metric tons per year is currently the main figure confirmed by the parties involved. An earlier indication from Synhelion in February 2025 pointed to a potential investment of around $1 billion in Morocco, although the latest memorandum does not establish a final investment value. The project’s development will therefore determine the eventual scale and cost of the facility. 

The Tan-Tan project comes as Morocco seeks to expand the industrial use of its renewable energy resources. The Guelmim-Oued Noun region, where Tan-Tan is located, has substantial solar and wind potential, making the area a potential location for industries that require large amounts of renewable electricity. 

Synhelion has identified Morocco as a possible base for scaling its technology commercially. The company has been developing a process designed to produce synthetic fuels that can be used in existing transport systems. According to the company, its fuels can serve as alternatives to conventional fossil fuels without requiring major modifications to existing engines or fuel distribution infrastructure. 

The company also says its technology can achieve net carbon dioxide emission reductions of up to 100%, depending on the production pathway and inputs used. Such claims relate to the lifecycle emissions of the fuels rather than meaning that combustion itself produces no carbon dioxide. 

Morocco’s policy framework provides a broader context for the project. The country’s Green Hydrogen Offer, introduced to attract investment in renewable hydrogen and related industries, includes the production of hydrogen derivatives such as ammonia, methanol and synthetic fuels. The framework also covers renewable electricity generation, electrolysis and the conversion of green hydrogen into different products for domestic consumption, export or both. 

Synthetic fuels have therefore been identified within Morocco’s official plans for developing a broader green hydrogen and renewable energy ecosystem. The Synhelion project would add another potential industrial application to this strategy, with an emphasis on fuels that could be supplied to transportation markets. 

The project also follows other initiatives involving green hydrogen and e-fuels in Morocco. In 2024, HIF Global announced plans related to green hydrogen and e-fuels, with synthetic methanol among the products being considered. Other proposed hydrogen projects have focused on products such as green ammonia, while Morocco has continued to promote renewable energy projects that could provide electricity for hydrogen production and related industrial processes. 

The country’s southern regions have become an important focus for these developments because of their renewable energy potential. Large areas with favorable solar and wind conditions can provide resources for electricity-intensive industries, although the development of such projects also depends on infrastructure, financing, water availability, logistics and access to markets. 

For Tan-Tan, the Synhelion proposal could bring a new industrial activity to a region where Morocco has been seeking to develop renewable energy and value-added industries. The location also has potential relevance for transportation fuels because synthetic fuel production can be linked to aviation, maritime and road transport markets. 

Synhelion’s presence in Morocco is already taking a more concrete form. The company has created Synhelion Morocco, a local subsidiary established in March 2026, and the entity has obtained Casablanca Finance City status. The company has also secured a reservation for land at the planned project site. These steps indicate that preparations have progressed beyond an initial assessment of Morocco as a potential location, although the memorandum itself does not constitute confirmation that the full plant has reached final investment or construction. 

The Swiss company has experience operating an industrial facility in its home market. Its first industrial installation, known as DAWN, has been operating since 2024. The Moroccan project would represent a move toward a larger commercial-scale facility and would be the company’s first such project in the region if implemented as planned. 

The production of synthetic fuels is part of a growing international effort to find alternatives for sectors where direct electrification can be difficult. Aviation is one of the main areas of interest because long-distance aircraft require energy-dense fuels. Synthetic aviation fuels can potentially be produced using renewable energy and carbon-based inputs, creating fuels compatible with existing aircraft engines and airport infrastructure when they meet applicable fuel standards. 

However, large-scale synthetic fuel production requires significant amounts of renewable energy and suitable feedstocks. The economics of these projects depend on electricity costs, technology performance, access to carbon sources or biogenic waste, transportation infrastructure and demand for lower-carbon fuels. Regulatory requirements and future fuel standards will also influence the commercial development of the sector. 

For Morocco, the Tan-Tan project is therefore part of a wider effort rather than an isolated industrial initiative. The country has been seeking to use its renewable energy resources to attract investment in hydrogen, ammonia, methanol and synthetic fuels, while developing industrial value chains around these products. 

The 100,000-metric-ton annual capacity proposed by Synhelion provides a clear indication of the project’s intended industrial scale. At the same time, several elements remain to be determined, including the final investment amount, financing structure, construction schedule and the precise mix of fuels that would be produced at the facility. 

If implemented, the Tan-Tan plant would add renewable synthetic fuel production to Morocco’s growing portfolio of clean-energy projects. It would also provide a test of the country’s ability to connect renewable energy resources in the south with new industrial activities and international markets. 

The next stages are expected to focus on project development, including technical studies, investment arrangements, infrastructure requirements and regulatory procedures. The final outcome will depend on these factors as Synhelion and Moroccan authorities move from the memorandum stage toward potential implementation of the planned facility.