Mauritania And France Sign €39 Million Loan Agreement To Build 10 Solar Power Stations With Storage Units
Representational image. Credit: Canva
Mauritania and France have signed a new concessional loan agreement to support the construction of ten solar power stations equipped with storage units. The agreement was signed on Tuesday in Nouakchott by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, Abdallah Cheikh-Sidia, and the French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Investment Attractiveness, Nicolas Forissier. The total financing amounts to €39,223,671, which is equivalent to 1,817,000,000 new ouguiyas. This funding is intended to strengthen efforts in clean energy development and reduce the gap between rural and urban areas in terms of access to electricity.
During the signing event, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Development highlighted that this agreement reflects the commitment of President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani to expanding access to basic services across the population. He noted that the government is implementing several structural electricity projects as part of its sectoral development plans, backed by substantial resources from the state’s investment budget. He appreciated the level of partnership between Mauritania and France and the diverse support France continues to provide, describing the cooperation as undergoing a real qualitative shift. The areas of cooperation have now expanded to include education, vocational training, decentralization, food security, health, and infrastructure.
The minister emphasized that Mauritania possesses significant potential in renewable energy, especially solar and wind power, and is currently witnessing rising investment demand in the energy sector. These developments are driven by increasing electricity needs for economic growth and improved living standards. According to him, several financial institutions, including the French Development Agency, are supporting Mauritania’s energy initiatives. Their support aims to rationalize energy use, establish high-voltage transmission lines, strengthen connections between the national grid and those of neighbouring countries, and expand electricity distribution networks in densely populated areas. The initiatives also seek to encourage private sector participation in energy production and distribution.
The minister stated that ongoing efforts in the energy sector have already raised national electricity coverage to more than 50%, marking significant progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7, which focuses on access to clean and affordable energy. He stressed that the newly signed financing will contribute to improving clean energy supply, reducing social and geographic inequalities, strengthening economic activities, combating poverty, reducing migration, and advancing development in communication, education, and health services.
Speaking at the ceremony, the French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Investment Attractiveness expressed his satisfaction with the signing of the agreement. He said the project represents a continuation of the strong partnership between the two countries and reaffirmed France’s support for Mauritania. He noted that this visit to Mauritania is his first official trip to Africa and expressed pride in the long-standing friendship uniting the two nations.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mohamed Ould Khaled, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Development, the French Ambassador to Mauritania, and several senior officials from both sides. The project is expected to push forward Mauritania’s transition to clean energy and bring long-term benefits to communities across the country.
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