The $50bn Hyrasia One green hydrogen and ammonia project in Kazakhstan’s Mangystau region has reached a key milestone in its development with the start of geological drilling as part of the pre-Feed phase.

The project, under development by German-Swedish renewables firm Svevind, is designed to produce up to 2mn t/yr of green hydrogen and potentially 11mn t/yr of green ammonia from 2030, making it one of the largest of its type in the world. The project will deploy 20GW of electrolyser capacity powered by 40GW of wind and solar installed on the Steppes of southwest Kazakhstan.

“With Hyrasia One, we will play our part in this green transition,” says Svevind CEO Wolfgang Kropp. “The project will produce hydrogen or ammonia at industrial scale, and it has the potential to supply large amounts to European or Asian markets while still significantly contributing to the green transition of the Kazakh economy.”

“The project has the potential to supply large amounts to European or Asian markets” Kropp, Svevind

The project has already seen strong interest from potential offtakers in Europe, Asia and the Mideast Gulf region, Rene Pforte, chief business development officer at Svevind, told Hydrogen Economist in an interview.

Hyrasia One is supported by an investment agreement, signed in October with the Kazakh government, that defines key project parameters including access to land and infrastructure, as well as economic and legal conditions.

The start of geological drilling was attended by German federal president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, highlighting Germany’s efforts to strengthen its ties with Kazakhstan as part of a campaign to shore up energy supplies after the loss of Russian gas imports because of the war in Ukraine.

Last year, German minister of foreign affairs Annalena Baerbock announced plans to establish a “hydrogen diplomacy” office in the Kazakh capital, Astana.

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Author: Stuart Penson