GreenPaths project: Green industrial policy in North Africa: between energy sovereignty, authoritarian governance and neocolonial extraction (case study 8)

This case study investigates green industrial policy in North Africa, highlighting the tension between bold renewable energy goals and neocolonial extraction practices. The research question asks: Can North Africa’s green transition meet its domestic development needs, or does it mainly replicate hi...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Hamouchene, Hamza, Chavez, Daniel
Tipo de recurso: informe técnico
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Cantabria (UC)
Repositorio:UCrea Repositorio Abierto de la Universidad de Cantabria
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:ucreareposit::f6f34fb81e8d0c4697054b7a47a422be
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10902/40273
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Industrial policy
Trade
Investment
Just transition
State
Descripción
Sumario:This case study investigates green industrial policy in North Africa, highlighting the tension between bold renewable energy goals and neocolonial extraction practices. The research question asks: Can North Africa’s green transition meet its domestic development needs, or does it mainly replicate historical patterns of resource extraction that serve European energy security? Results show that despite substantial renewable energy efforts – Morocco aiming for 52% renewables by 2030 and Tunisia 35% – export-focused green hydrogen projects, privatisation agendas driven by international financial institutions, and the ongoing Moroccan occupation in Western Sahara through ‘green’ infrastructure illustrate how the energy transition risks increasing dependency rather than promoting true sovereignty. The study adds to discussions on green colonialism by illustrating how the EU's hydrogen strategy and World Bank-IMF structural reforms influence North Africa’s energy trajectories, prioritising European energy security over local needs and democratic engagement.