From hydrocarbon to low-carbon hydrogen: Energy and economic challenges facing the Middle East and North Africa region

Abstract

The energy transition poses many challenges for the MENA region countries, many of which have based their development model on the hydrocarbon trade. MENA countries seem determined to take advantage of this new paradigm by integrating the new global energy transition economy and maximizing revenues from their oil and gas resources. The low-carbon hydrogen economy is one of the opportunities that MENA countries are targeting. The goal of this paper is to provide an up-to-date literature review of the various hydrogen strategies being implemented exclusively in the MENA region. First, we classify MENA countries into five groups, based on their energy and economic characteristics: the “First-mover, Experienced Energy Players,” the “Slow-mover Energy Players,” the “New Energy Players,” and the “Non-players”. This classification then serves as a framework to analyze the hydrogen production and export strategies deployed by these countries.