Mauritania and France Partner to Finance High-Voltage Line and Power Plant Projects

The Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Sid’ Ahmed Ould Bouh, signed an agreement on Tuesday in Nouakchott with H.E. Alexandre Garcia, the French Ambassador to Mauritania, for the financing of a high-voltage line project in southern Mauritania and a power plant in Kiffa.

Under this agreement, the French Development Agency (AFD) will provide a soft loan of €64 million (approximately 2.8 billion new ouguiyas).

The Minister explained that the funding will be used to construct a high-voltage line between Ghayra and Kiffa, a 50-megawatt power plant in Kiffa, and a substation in Nouakchott. It will also connect the national grid to the Malian grid, facilitate 100,000 new connections along the high-voltage line, and develop local distribution networks.

He emphasized Mauritania’s significant potential in solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy, which could double with the prospects of gas extraction. However, he noted that limited transmission and distribution capacities remain a barrier to fully utilizing these resources, as national electricity coverage stands at 57% and drops to just 10% in rural areas.

To address this issue, Mauritania has launched an ambitious program with support from various financiers. The program focuses on constructing high-voltage lines between Nouakchott and Naama, integrating the national grid with those of neighboring countries, investing in renewable energy, expanding distribution networks in densely populated areas, and encouraging private sector participation in energy production and distribution. This agreement is part of these broader efforts.

The French Ambassador highlighted the vibrancy of cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the priority sectors of energy and infrastructure. He underscored that the funding will directly improve access to clean and sustainable electricity for the population, reinforcing the central role of energy development in bilateral cooperation.