Sub-Saharan Africa imports nearly all of its fertilizer. As a result, smallholder farmers are acutely exposed to price shocks from market fluctuations and often pay a premium, which limits beneficial fertilizer use and reduces subsequent crop yields. Hydrogen is an essential feedstock in nitrogen fertilizer production and the main driver of its cost. A local, low-cost source of geologic hydrogen could improve fertilizer access in the region while providing another source of primary energy — but across sub-Saharan Africa, the resource remains largely untested.
The Chimaera Fund is leading a nonprofit consortium to establish an open-science geologic hydrogen testbed in sub-Saharan Africa: a small-scale site producing at least 100 tons of geologic hydrogen per year to be used as a feedstock for local ammonia and fertilizer production. The program is staged in three phases, and each phase proceeds only if the one before it returns a positive result.
Phase 1 begins with Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. Today, the data needed to assess geologic hydrogen potential is scattered across government archives, academic literature, and company files. Over approximately 12–15 months, we will seek to assemble it, fill critical gaps with targeted field sampling, and fund independent expert teams to identify the most promising areas of interest. We anticipate publishing all non-proprietary data and findings openly to further catalyze discovery and regional development beyond our efforts.
While the program is anchored in food security, its value extends to energy security and to the development of the geologic hydrogen field. An open evidence base for an understudied region lowers the cost of entry for any researcher, company, or government pursuing geologic hydrogen — for fertilizer, power, or industry — and offers a replicable model for characterizing new regions anywhere.
Program phases
The program follows a staged approach used across mature subsurface industries, with each phase reducing risk before more capital is committed.
Assess
Assemble existing subsurface data, fund targeted sampling and laboratory testing, and rank the most promising areas in one to two focus countries, alongside initial fertilizer market and regulatory analyses.
Explore
A targeted field campaign — surveys, sampling, and shallow test wells — concentrated on the highest-ranked areas, using the same tools and crews as mature subsurface industries.
Demonstrate
An open-access testbed producing at least 100 tons of hydrogen per year targeted for local fertilizer production, governed by a consortium of companies, universities, governments, and communities.
Phase 1 timeline
Request for Information
An open RFI to identify potential partners and available datasets, and to gather feedback on program design.
Request for Proposals
Down-selection to one to two focus countries based on the RFI. Selection of up to four independent expert teams, paired with in-country institutions, via an RFP.
Research
Desktop analysis of public and proprietary datasets plus targeted field sampling, culminating in a ranked priority list of promising areas.
Go/no-go recommendation
A public final report documenting the ranked areas of interest, the local fertilizer market, and the regulatory landscape, with a go/no-go recommendation for the next phase.
RFIs & RFPs
Requests issued under this programCatalyst: Sub-Saharan Africa — Request for Information
Seeking input from academic, industry, and government partners across the region on available subsurface data, candidate areas, regulatory considerations, and program design.
Phase 1 Request for Proposals
Will select up to four independent expert teams, each paired with an in-country institution, to analyze the assembled data and rank the most promising areas in the focus country.
Questions about the RFI?
Join a live virtual Q&A with the Chimaera team. Two sessions: and . Register and we’ll email you the webinar link.
Looking to connect or collaborate?
Join the Teaming and Partnership Exchange to explore collaborations and form teams for potential proposals.
