• Mauritania, Toyota Tsusho plan renewable-powered desalination plant

• Project aims to produce 50,000 m³ water daily

• Nouadhibou emerging as energy, water, and industry hub
  

The Mauritanian Ministry of Hydraulics and Toyota Tsusho signed a memorandum of understanding last week to build a renewable energy-powered desalination plant. The agreement reflects the city of Nouadhibou’s unique trajectory as a hub for integrating water, energy, and industry.

Toyota Tsusho will complete a feasibility study for the project, which will have a capacity of 50,000 m³ per day, by December 2025. The company will then submit a proposal for execution and financing, with support from Japanese and international lenders. The project aligns with the Mauritanian government’s goal of meeting the growing demand for drinking water while reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Beyond the city, the entire Dakhlet Nouadhibou region is positioning itself as a strategic center for energy transition. The area already hosts an operational 100 MW wind farm that helps secure the local power supply. It is also home to some of the country’s main green hydrogen projects under evaluation.

Major developers, including CWP Global with its AMAN project, Chariot Green Hydrogen, and TotalEnergies H2 with the Nour project, are all assessing large-scale installations in the region. The area is rich in world-class wind resources and high solar radiation. The desalination plant, therefore, is part of a broader dynamic that links water and energy. It will secure access to drinking water for a rapidly growing region and support the industrial development of the free zone and future energy infrastructure.

This integration of renewable resources, water needs, and economic diversification reflects a regional trend already visible in Morocco and Egypt, where desalination powered by clean energy is gaining ground. For Toyota Tsusho and Japan, the agreement signed on the sidelines of the TICAD 9 (9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development) illustrates a commitment to strengthening their footprint in Africa.

Abdoullah Diop