• Mauritania signs $300M deal for hybrid solar-wind power plant
• Project to supply 60 MW continuously, operational by Sept 2026
• Aims to reach 100% electricity access, 70% renewables by 2030

Mauritania has taken a new step in its energy strategy, signing two public-private partnership agreements in Nouakchott on Friday, September 12, for the construction and operation of a hybrid solar-wind power plant.

The plant, to be developed by Ewa Green Energy at a cost of $300 million, will have a total installed capacity of 220 MW and a 370 MWh storage system. It is slated to begin operations in September 2026, providing a guaranteed continuous output of 60 MW to the national grid.

This project, the first of its kind in the country, will combine 160 MW of solar power with 60 MW of wind power. It will be operated for fifteen years under a public-private partnership that includes a power purchase agreement with the Mauritanian Electricity Company (SOMELEC). The government says this model avoids external debt while mobilizing private sector capital and expertise.

The announcement aligns with the "National Energy Pact" issued as part of the "Mission 300" initiative. In the pact, the government commits to providing electricity access to an additional 3.4 million Mauritanians by 2030, raising the national coverage rate from 55% to 100%. The share of renewables in the energy mix is targeted to reach 70% by that time, with total installed capacity increasing by 66%.

Authorities also plan to attract $1.23 billion in private investment and accelerate access to clean cooking solutions for 480,000 households. The current state of the energy sector highlights the scale of the challenge. In 2023, SOMELEC's net production was 956,940 MWh, with thermal power plants accounting for 55.49%, hydroelectricity from the Senegal River Basin Development Authority (OMVS) for 27.34%, wind power for 12.63%, and solar for just 4.39%.

National installed capacity stands at 490 MW, with a significant portion coming from the Nouakchott Nord thermal power plant (180 MW). The largest renewable energy facilities are the Boulenouar wind farm (100 MW) in the north and the Nouakchott solar power plant (50 MW).

The introduction of a hybrid plant with storage represents both a technological and a symbolic milestone. It will better integrate intermittent renewable energy into the grid and strengthen supply reliability. While domestic natural gas, though strategic, is not yet part of the energy mix, Mauritania is betting on renewables to achieve universal electricity access and build the foundation for a more sustainable energy model.

Abdoullah Diop