Scenic view of Western Sahara’s coastline featuring boats, sandy cliffs, and the Atlantic Ocean.
The United States has approved its first government-backed funding for a private-sector project in Western Sahara, providing early-stage support for a renewable ammonia facility in the disputed territory. The US Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to project developer ORNX to finance a $5.7 million engineering study for a plant expected to produce about 560,000 metric tons of ammonia annually using hydrogen generated from renewable energy. The announcement reflects Washington’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, a position adopted in 2020 but disputed by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the territory. The funding was unveiled days after Morocco named a new $1 billion highway in Western Sahara after US President Donald Trump.
Reuters