French energy company MGH Energy has announced its intention to construct a plant dedicated to producing renewable synthetic fuels using green hydrogen in the Dakhla area of occupied Western Sahara. 

The controversial project dubbed Janassim is spearheaded by MGH Energy's subsidiary MGH Energy Maroc. An installation of 2.2 GW of wind and solar plants will allow for the production of nearly 500,000 tonnes of e-methanol and e-jet per year. These are synthetic fuels - produced using renewable energy and captured carbon dioxide which aim to decarbonize sectors that are hard to electrify, such as shipping and aviation. 

The construction of the Janassim project is scheduled to kick off in 2027, with commercial operations slated for 2030 to coincide with the launch of the major port that the Moroccan government is constructing in Dakhla, Dakhla Atlantic. Moroccan media states that this timing will facilitate the distribution of the synthetic fuels to Moroccan and European markets, and will be made available to Moroccan and European airlines.

On its website, MGH Energy states that “as a key player in the decarbonization of maritime and air transport, MGH Energy Maroc also seeks to contribute to the sustainable energy sovereignty of the Kingdom.”

MGH Energy reported on LinkedIn that it has already teamed up with Moroccan company Greenard for the first stage of the project, which is measuring the solar and wind potential of the site through two 120m high measuring towers. This phase is expected to last at least two years.

Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) has written a letter to MGH Energy in December 2024, inquiring how its plans in Western Sahara square with international and EU law. Among other things, WSRW inquired what the company had done “to ensure it has the consent of the people of Western Sahara” for the operation. The firm has not responded.

Janassim has been described in the media as requiring an investment of US $5 billion, that will cover the construction of facilities that include wind turbines, solar power plants, electrolyzers and synthetic fuel production units.

MGH Energy's project in Dakhla, occupied Western Sahara, is developed within the framework of the Moroccan government's Green Hydrogen Offer.

MGH Energy is a firm that specialises in decarbonizing maritime and air transport. The firm is a subsidiary of the Soper Group. Both MGH Energy and Soper Group are owned by Jean-Michel Germa, who did many wind energy projects in France and in Morocco, where he installed the first wind farm, in Koudia al-Baida (in Morocco proper). 

Western Sahara is under foreign, illegal occupation by Morocco. The Moroccan claims to the territory have been rejected by international courts. 

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