Green Industrial Policy in North Africa: Between Energy Sovereignty, Authoritarian Governance and Neocolonial Extraction
Authors:
Hamza Hamouchene (TNI), Daniel Chavez (TNI)
Abstract:
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.
