Sri Lanka invites global investors for green hydrogen, ammonia projects

Colombo, May 19 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka has launched an ambitious drive to attract global investment into the development of green hydrogen and green ammonia projects, with authorities aiming to position the country as a regional hub for clean energy production and exports.

The initiative was formally announced through a Request for Information (RFI) jointly issued by the Ministry of Energy and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI), inviting both local and international investors to submit proposals for projects spanning the green energy value chain.

The RFI, issued on April 23, 2026, seeks expressions of interest for the establishment of production facilities, storage infrastructure, export terminals, and manufacturing operations related to green hydrogen and green ammonia.

BOI officials said the move represents a major step in Sri Lanka’s transition towards renewable energy and long-term energy security.

According to the BOI, Sri Lanka is targeting 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030 and carbon neutrality in the power sector by 2050, in line with the country’s broader clean energy goals.

“The RFI is intended to gauge investor interest and identify strategic opportunities to develop Sri Lanka’s green hydrogen and green ammonia sector,” the BOI said.

Authorities noted that Sri Lanka’s renewable energy potential, particularly from offshore wind and solar resources, could exceed domestic energy demand, creating opportunities for large-scale exports to regional and international markets.

The initiative is aligned with Sri Lanka’s National Hydrogen Roadmap, introduced in 2023, which outlines plans to establish the country as a hub for green hydrogen production and export while strengthening domestic energy resilience.

Green hydrogen is produced using renewable electricity to split water molecules, while green ammonia is derived from hydrogen and is increasingly seen as a key low-carbon fuel for industries such as shipping, fertilizer manufacturing, heavy transport, and steel production.

The BOI said eligible projects may receive facilitation support under existing investment frameworks, including fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, infrastructure assistance, and regulatory facilitation subject to prevailing laws and regulations.

The BOI and the Ministry of Energy will jointly evaluate submissions, with the Ministry assessing technical feasibility and the BOI reviewing investment credentials and commercial viability.

Officials stressed that the RFI process is non-binding and does not constitute a formal tender or contractual commitment by the Government.

“The process is intended to support future policy formulation and structured investment engagement,” the BOI noted.

The RFI submission window remains open until June 5, 2026. Interested parties can obtain the official documents through the Ministry of Energy and BOI platforms and submit proposals electronically or physically to the BOI’s Investment Promotion and Research Department at the World Trade Center in Colombo.

The BOI said all submissions would be treated confidentially and used solely for internal assessment and planning purposes.

Industry analysts have described the initiative as a potentially transformative opportunity for Sri Lanka’s economy, with the possibility of attracting billions of dollars in investment, generating skilled employment, and integrating the country into the rapidly expanding global green hydrogen market.