Jan De Nul’s new partnership to transport green electrons from Africa to Europe via subsea cable

Jan De Nul Group has set up a partnership with green technology, energy and metals company Fortescue for the transport of green electrons – electrons that were made using renewable resources – from energy-producing continents to energy-demanding ones through subsea cables.

The partners have joined forces to provide the shipping and subsea cable laying capability of green electrons from North Africa to Europe, with the agreement signed in Rabat, Morocco, by Fortescue Chairman, Andrew Forrest, and Jan De Nul Executive Chairman, ir. Jan Pieter De Nul.

The collaboration is expected to bring substantial benefits to both North Africa and Europe in terms of employment, economic growth and providing citizens with a choice to use fuels made using green energy.

“It is clear that the electrification transition is happening worldwide. Direct transport and consumption of green electrons is one of the most efficient ways to help reduce the total energy needs of the world. With our know-how, highly skilled and motivated staff and crew, and our versatile fleet of construction vessels including five of the world’s cutting edge subsea cable laying vessels we are ready to construct the energy transition,” De Nul said.

The deal builds on the joint venture between Fortescue and OCP to supply green hydrogen, ammonia, and fertilizers to Morocco, Europe, and international markets, which includes exploring the potential development of manufacturing facilities and an R&D hub to advance the rapidly growing renewable energy industry in Morocco. The OCP Fortescue joint venture is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

“There is a massive opportunity to send renewable electrons from Morocco and North Africa to Europe to industries and consumers who deserve a better choice than the only one they currently have available – carbon emitting, global warming causing fossil fuels,” said Fortescue’s Andrew Forrest.

“Europe, under EU rules, will impose carbon taxes globally through its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on industries that fail to convert energy supplies to renewable energy. Fortescue believes a lack of cable laying capability is creating a bottleneck in connecting Morocco to Europe, making this pursuit with Jan De Nul one the most outstanding opportunities we have across the world.”

Jan De Nul recently ordered a new XL cable-laying vessel (CLV), identical to the Fleeming Jenkin ordered at a Chinese shipyard last year, which, with a cable-carrying capacity of 28,000 tonnes, are said to be the largest capacity CLVs in the world.

The vessels will be equipped with ultra-low emission vessel (ULEv) technology, an advanced dual exhaust filter system, said to remove up to 99% of nanoparticles from emissions using a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and a selective catalytic reduction system (SCR) for NOx removal, as well as significantly reduce exhaust gas pollutants.