Mauritania Energy Situation

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Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Mauritania Flag.png
Mauritania Location.png

Capital

Nouakchott (18°09′N 15°58′W)

Official language(s)

Arabic

Government

Islamic republic

President

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz

Prime Minister

Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf

Total area

1,030,700 km2

Population

3,291,000 (2009 estimate)

GDP (nominal)

$3.029 billion

GDP Per capita

$975

Currency

Ouguiya (MRO)

Time zone

CET (UTC+00)

Calling code

+222

Overview

Mauritania was originally a nomad country, which for the last 50 years has evolved into a settled one. 65% of the population was nomad in 1965 compared to the 95% that has been settled in 2001. An urbanization process has been in place since the 70’s and the urbanization rate doubled between 1970 (22,7%) and 2000 (50%). Currently, the population growth is around 2,6% per year. All these transformations in Mauritania are affecting the energy consumption necessitating an evolution in the energy supply. Mauritania is mostly dependent on non-renewable resources (fossil fuels) and the access rate to the grid is pretty low. Some projects are emerging to benefit from solar, wind and biomass resources and to increase the access rate to the grid.


Energy Sources

Hydropower

There isn’t much of a hydropower potential in Mauritania. Nevertheless, the country imports hydropower electricity from Manantali hydropower plant[1]. This source can provide 30 MW to Mauritania, mostly for the cities of Boghé and Kaédi. Mauritania aims to increase the share of hydropower electricity to 30% by 2015. To do that, it will add to Manantali, the imported electricity from Felou (20 MW)[2] and Gouina[3] (40 MW) hydropower plants.[4]


[2] Aménagement Hydroélectrique de Félou European Bank of Investment internet site http://www.eib.org/projects/pipeline/2003/20030347.htm

[4] Financement d’une centrale hybride photovoltaïque/thermique à Kiffa et des réseaux électriques de la région de Kiffa – AFD – (2012)


Solar Energy

Since 2013, OFID, IBD, ISFD and the Government of Mauritania funds have co-financed a project of rural electrification by solar energy[1]. This project is delegated to Agency for the Promotion of Universal Access to Basic Services (APAUS) and will allow building a solar power plant in Aftout El Chargui area (Gorgol Wilaya). It aims to:

· Supply electricity to 5,450 households in 30 localities ;

· increasing access to electricity in targeted rural areas by 7% by 2016 ;

· reducing annual CO2 emissions by around 15,000 tons.

In Nouakchott, a solar plant developed by Masdar adds 15 MW more to the supply of electricity. It is expected to deliver 10% of capital supply[2].

A project co-financed by Agence Française de Développement and the European Union in Kiffa started in 2013. It aims to build a hybrid central that should provide 2 MW of solar energy coupled with 5,6 MW of fuel energy. It should also connect the grid from Kiffa to Guérou.[3]

The Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière (SNIM) has also developed its own project of a solar power plant with the development of a 3 MW solar plant in Zouérat[4].


[2] Masdar to Develop 15 MW Solar Plant in Mauritania – Masdar internet site http://www.masdar.ae/en/media/detail/masdar-to-develop-15-mw-solar-plant-in-mauritania


[3] Financement d’une centrale hybride photovoltaïque/thermique à Kiffa et des réseaux électriques de la région de Kiffa – AFD – (2012)


Biomass

In 2012, a project co-financed by European Union and GIZ was established to promote improved cookstoves in the rural and semi-urban areas of Guidimakha[1]. This project aims to promote 5 000 improved cookstoves (ICS) through the following:

· Organizing media and proximity campaigns to promote ICS

· Sensitizing and training users to apply good practices of utilization

· Training producers of ICS in the production and marketing techniques and in SME management

· Supporting the introduction, implementation and marketing of ICS

· Supporting professional training and capacity development centers to add cleaner cooking stove production to their training programs.


[1] Factsheet ProCEAO Mauritania – 2013

Biogas

Wind Energy

Recently, the National Assembly adopted a law that allows the acceptance of a FADES loan to construct a 30MW wind power plant[1].

SNIM has also developed a 4 MW wind power plant in Nouadhibou that has been paid for with their own resources[2].

Geothermal Energy

Fossil Fuels


Key Problems of the Energy Sector

The fulldoc..pdf Oriented results country strategy document for 2011-2015 indicates that the electrification rate stands at 50% in urban areas, 5% in semi urban areas and at 3% in rural areas[1].


[1] Mauritanie : document de stratégie pays axé sur les résultats (dspar) 2011-2015


Policy Framework, Laws and Regulations

General Energy Policy, Energy Strategy

Important Laws and Regulations

Specific Strategies

In 2012, Mauritania’s Prime Minister adopted an environmental national action plan (PANE 2) for 2012-2016. This action plan was developed by Ministère délégué auprès du Premier Ministre en charge de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable to especially include a wood energy strategy. This strategy covers the wood energy value chain (production, exploitation, distribution, and consumption) [1]


[1] Plan d’Action Nationale pour l’Environnement 2 (PANE 2) – (2012)


Institutional Set-up in the Energy Sector

The Electricity sector is under the care of Ministère des Affaires économiques et du Développement, Ministère du Pétrole de l'Energie et des Mines, Ministère des Finances, and is regulated by Autorité de Régulation. Due to the failure of the privatization process, there is a unique operator, the government-owned electricity utility in Mauritania, la Société Mauritaneinne d'Electricité.


Implementation of rural electrification government policies is led by l'Agence de Développement et d'Electrification Rurale et l’Agence de Promotion de l’Accès Universel aux Services. [1]


[1] Financement d’une centrale hybride photovoltaïque/thermique à Kiffa et des réseaux électriques de la région de Kiffa – AFD – (2012)


Activities of Donors and Implementing Agencies

Further Information


References

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