Mauritania has high-quality wind and solar resources whose large-scale  development could have catalytic effects in supporting the country to deliver  universal electricity access to its citizens and achieve its vision for sustainable  economic development.

Renewables deployment would benefit mining – the largest industry in the country  – which is currently reliant on diesel and heavy fuel oil for its operations. A switch  to renewable energy in the sector could lower costs, reduce emissions, increase  efficiency and improve energy security in the country. There is also potential to  further electrify energy uses in mining.

The government has announced various export-oriented projects to produce  renewable hydrogen, ammonia and/or hydrogen-reduced iron. Anchoring demand  on foreign offtakers would contribute significantly to de-risk these projects and  generate the stable revenue stream needed to mobilise investors at the necessary  scale. By attracting significant amounts of capital, such large-scale projects could  enable a transformation of the power sector and spur sustainable economic  development and growth, but robust and transparent policies and regulatory  frameworks are needed.

This new IEA report – the first focusing on Mauritania – explores the potential  benefits to Mauritania of developing its renewable energy options and includes an  analysis of the water requirements of hydrogen and the potential for expanding  potable water availability through seawater desalination.