Green energy : US company under pressure to leave the Sahara

«US company GE Vernova is seemingly gambling with its lucrative projects elsewhere when it operates in the occupied territory for the Moroccan government». This is the accusation leveled by the Western Sahara Resource Watch (WRSW), an NGO closely aligned with the Polisario Front, against the General Electric subsidiary.

The accusation came immediately after Africa Intelligence published an article detailing the standoff between the two parties. This is the latest in a series of warnings issued by the NGO since the January 30, 2024 agreement between GE Vernova and two Moroccan partners: ONEE (National Office of Electricity and Water) and NAREVA, a private company.

The agreement outlines a two-year study to decarbonize the 99 MW thermal power plant in Laayoune, equipped with three GE Vernova 6B gas turbines and fueled by heavy fuel oil, by utilizing green hydrogen produced at the Laayoune wind farm.

In February and October 2023, the NGO urged GE Vernova's management to cancel the project in the Saharan capital, but the American management has thus far ignored these appeals.

The Algerian government has also entered the fray. Sonelgaz, the state-owned Algerian energy company, signed an agreement with General Electric on April 17, 2024, to produce high and very high voltage electrical substation equipment. In September, Sonelgaz CEO Mourad Adjal met with a delegation of General Electric officials, as reported by local media.

For now, GE Vernova remains committed to its project in Laayoune. It's worth noting that in 2013, the Western Sahara Resource Watch (WRSW) called on General Electric to withdraw from an international tender launched by the Moroccan government for the construction of two wind farms in Laayoune and Boujdour. However, this pressure did not yield the desired results.

The American giant is actively involved in implementing green energy production projects in the Sahara, as evidenced by its contribution to the construction of the Aftissat I wind farm in Boujdour.

The United States recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara on December 10, 2020.