Mauritania has signed its first-ever private-sector-backed power contract, sealing a $300 million deal with Iwa Green Energy to build a 60-megawatt hybrid solar-wind facility.
The project, set to be commissioned in September 2026, marks a milestone in the country’s energy transition and is expected to boost national generation capacity by more than 13 per cent. With Mauritania’s current installed capacity standing at roughly 450 MW, the new plant will significantly expand supply while cutting reliance on imported fuels.
At the signing ceremony in Nouakchott, Economy and Finance Minister Sid’Ahmed Ould Bouh hailed the deal as proof of investor confidence in Mauritania’s commitment to clean energy and private-sector growth. He noted that the hybrid model—solar by day, wind by night—would improve reliability and efficiency, particularly for a grid where demand fluctuates and backup infrastructure remains limited.
Energy Minister Mohamed Ould Khaled stressed that the fully private financing model ensures growth without adding to public debt. The initiative also aligns with President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani’s ambition to achieve universal electricity access and generate 70 per cent of power from renewables by 2030.
The project is one of the first to be rolled out under the Desert to Power Independent Power Producer Joint Protocol, a framework supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) to attract private investment across 11 Sahel countries. Daniel Schroth, the AfDB’s Director of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, welcomed Mauritania’s adoption of the model, calling it a key step towards the Desert to Power initiative and the nation’s Mission 300 Energy Compact.
Despite its vast renewable potential, fewer than 10 per cent of Mauritania’s rural households currently have electricity. The government hopes this deal will accelerate access, cement energy independence, and establish the country as a regional leader in renewable innovation.
