Hydrogen Discourse in the MENA Region: Powerful Actors and projections of opportunities and risks in the media discourse

The transition to a decarbonized economy and climate neutrality by 2050 is a top priority for the European Union (EU). Green hydrogen, generated through water electrolysis using renewable energy, is favoured as a major solution for this energy transition. However, the prevailing discourse has predominantly focused on the EU's perspective, overlooking the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region's role and perspectives in hydrogen economy development. This article analyses the media discourse in nine MENA countries, focusing on key actors and their narratives on risks and opportunities. The analysis includes content from both state-owned and private news agencies published between 2019 and 2022, using methods inspired by Foucauldian ‘dispositive’ discourse analysis and media content analysis. This research contributes to the global energy transition discourse by providing a unique snapshot of dominant discourses in the region. Based on the concept of "institutional orientalism," the analysis reveals significant misconceptions about regional energy transition perspectives outside the EU. The findings show that national governmental entities and fossil industries in these nine countries of the region emphasize economic opportunities and national leadership, with significantly less focus on climate-oriented narratives, but still sidelining risks such as financial and missing regulative frameworks. These insights will benefit policymakers, researchers, and energy sector stakeholders in understanding the development of the hydrogen economy in the MENA region and the region's expectations in the global energy transition.