President of Republic supervises Launch of Electricity Access and Public Lighting Component of Nouakchott Emergency Development Program

On Monday in Tayarit, North Nouakchott, H E the President of the Republic, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazwani,  oversaw the launch of the electricity access and public lighting component of the emergency program for the development of the city of Nouakchott.

The total cost of this component is 5 billion 261 million old ounces, self-financed by the state treasury, and aims to provide electricity to 30,000 new subscribers, which means a significant increase in access to electricity, and will reduce the burden on equipment and operational devices and reduce and improve power outages.

This project, which is being implemented by the Mauritanian Electricity Company SOMLEC as part of the national approach that supports the development of competencies, technical capacities and energy sovereignty, will strengthen several major transformer stations and reinforce and rehabilitate the 33 kV medium voltage network. In addition, the electrical interconnection equipment in large areas of the city of Nouakchott will be renewed, including the connection of the Arafat switching station and the station located in the city center and the operation of large parts of the cables connecting the stations in the center and east of the city.

The 15 kV low-voltage network will also be extensively strengthened and rehabilitated through the construction of several new electrical lines, including a new line connecting the northern station to the Green Belt area, another connecting the Arafat station to the station near the Al-Nour Mosque, and another connecting the transformer station to the Relay 18 neighborhood (Hayat Jadida).

This component also includes the replacement of 40 kilometers of medium voltage cables that have become almost obsolete, the construction and equipping of 40 new transformers, and the construction of 150 kilometers of low-voltage overhead lines.

In a speech on the occasion, the Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mohamed Ould Khaled, explained that “the emergency program for the development of the city of Nouakchott is a comprehensive development and urbanization program that aims to develop and modernize the city of Nouakchott and make it a modern capital with more infrastructure and quality services in line with the ‘My Ambition for the Nation’ program of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, which is being implemented on the ground by the government of Prime Minister, El Moctar Ould Djay.

This program translates the importance that the President of the Republic attaches to strategic sectors, including the energy sector, and his keenness to improve the living conditions of citizens, noting that the improvement of electricity services and social services in general has become a prominent title and a tangible action during his reign.

He said that the implementation of development plans has led to a breakthrough in the field of energy facilities, increasing citizens’ access to electricity and solving the issues that hindered the launch of major projects.

He pointed out that the country has achieved a high percentage of the energy mix of 48% and a stimulating legal framework has been put in place, while the restructuring program of Somalilk is being implemented within a solid strategy aimed at further improving the performance of the sector.