Mauritania is accelerating its plans to become Africa’s number one producer of green hydrogen, with a target of 12.5 million tonnes by 2035. Backed by world-class solar and wind resources and proximity to Europe, the country is positioning itself as a competitive supplier to the world’s emerging markets. A supportive regulatory framework, including Africa’s first dedicated green hydrogen code and the creation of the Mauritanian Green Hydrogen Agency, is helping to attract large-scale foreign investment.
The country’s project pipeline has expanded rapidly in recent years, with multi-gigawatt developments led by global partners such as CWP Global, TotalEnergies, Chariot, GreenCo Energy, Masdar and Hynfra. International financial institutions such as the World Bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the EU are providing technical and financial support as Mauritania builds the regulatory systems, infrastructure and skills needed to support new industries.
Project pipeline and strategic benefits
Mauritania has the largest green hydrogen pipeline in sub-Saharan Africa. Key initiatives include CWP Global’s AMAN project, one of Africa’s most advanced developments, aiming for 30GW of wind and solar power generation capacity to produce up to 1.7 million tonnes of green hydrogen or 10 million tonnes of green ammonia per year. Chariot and TotalEnergies are promoting the 10 GW project Nour near Nouadhibou, with the support of a partnership with the Port of Rotterdam for future exports.
GreenCo Energy’s Megaton Moon is designed to produce 6 GW of electrolysis with a combined solar and wind output of 13 GW, with phase one scheduled for 2029. Additional projects include Hynfra’s $1.5 billion green ammonia facility scheduled for 2030 and a 10 GW green ammonia development by the Infinity Power-Masdar-Conjuncta consortium. The Mauritanian government views these investments as key to economic diversification, universal electrification, and new industrial activities such as green steel and hydrogen mines.
Infrastructure, workforce and investment requirements
Despite strong momentum, significant challenges remain across the sector. Water scarcity is a significant constraint and requires large-scale desalination, an energy-intensive process that requires grid expansion. Planned upgrades include new wells in Nouadhibou and N’Diago, a desalination plant and a 1,400km 225 kV transmission line from Nemah to Nouakchott to connect the regional grid. The World Bank’s comprehensive assessment also identified gaps in export infrastructure, including pipelines, storage terminals, and port capacity.
Human capital readiness is another priority. The government points to current delays in technical training, saying Mauritanians are at risk of being excluded from the profession. The World Bank-backed Energy Resources Development and Minerals Sector Support Project will support vocational education, institutional strengthening, and the country’s first utility-scale battery storage system to stabilize the power grid.
To close the funding and capacity gap, Mauritania is working closely with Germany, France, Spain, the EU, the EIB and multilateral institutions under initiatives such as the Global Gateway, which aims to mobilize €300 billion for green hydrogen in Mauritania. These partnerships aim to mobilize significant capital, de-risk private investment and support the regulatory clarity provided by the Green Hydrogen Code.
Mauritania’s green hydrogen ambitions will be highlighted at the MSGBC Oil and Gas Power 2025 conference and exhibition in Dakar from 8 to 10 December. The hydrogen-focused session, “From Vision to Reality: How Hydrogen Will Shape Africa’s Landscape,” examines how the region is moving from possibility to implementation, explores the broader economic impact of green hydrogen across the MSGBC basin, and positions this resource as a cornerstone of West Africa’s energy and economic transition.
Explore opportunities, foster partnerships and remain at the forefront of the oil, gas and power sector in the MSGBC region. To secure your participation in the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference, please visit www.msgbcoilgaspower.com. To become a sponsor or participate as a representative, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.
