Mauritania has completed the first phase of the expansion of its liquid fuel storage infrastructure in Nouakchott as part of efforts to reduce vulnerability to volatile global fuel prices amid an already constrained domestic electricity market. The government announced that 23,000 m3 of new storage tanks are now operational and a further 100,000 m3 of capacity is under construction, increasing total storage capacity from about 60,000 m3 previously to about 123,000 m3. The expansion comes at a time when Africa’s fuel supply system is feeling the strain of global disruption from the ongoing U.S.-Israel war with Iran, reducing shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, increasing oil prices and reducing fuel stocks across the continent.
Mauritania, which has been a hydrocarbon producer since 2024, has an opportunity to transition from an import-dependent model to a domestic energy buffer and interconnected electricity grid. Expanding hydrocarbon production could strengthen energy security, increase the predictability of electricity demand for industrial and transport purposes, and lay the foundation for increased regional trade with neighboring countries such as Senegal.
Mauritania’s fuel crisis meets gas-to-power opportunity
Mauritania’s power sector remains heavily dependent on imported petroleum products, including diesel and heavy oil, for power generation. Approximately 98% of the country’s electricity comes from thermal power plants, with a total installed capacity of approximately 500 MW, of which only approximately 20% comes from renewable sources. By 2025, approximately 57% of the population will have access to electricity, creating a disparity between urban and rural areas. Before the conflict in the Middle East, records showed a lack of reliable power generation and frequent power outages, highlighting the vulnerability of power grids when fuel supplies tighten or costs soar.
Despite Mauritania’s dependence on imported fuels, it has domestic hydrocarbon resources that could be exploited to alleviate future energy crises. The Greater Tortu Ahmaim (GTA) offshore gas project, jointly developed with international oil companies BP and Kosmos Energy, has sustained LNG production of 2.7 million tonnes per year, underscoring its growing contribution to the region’s energy supply. Beyond the GTA, the offshore Bir Allah gas field contains an estimated 2.265 billion cubic meters of recoverable gas. The Banda and Tevet fields, awarded to a consortium including Taqa Arabia and GoGas Holding, are even larger, with reserves of 62.2 million m3. This positions Mauritania as a prime opportunity to develop gas power projects to power the country.
How Mauritania can leverage regional trade to strengthen energy security
To strengthen the country’s electricity grid and reduce the vulnerability of the electricity system, Mauritania is promoting regional energy trade. The African Development Bank’s Desert to Power program aims to establish a 225 kV interconnector, a 1,373 km long high-voltage transmission line with a transmission capacity of 600 MW, connecting the power systems of Mauritania and Mali. The interconnector is designed to connect up to 80,000 new homes in Mauritania with reliable power, helping to integrate larger scale solar power and other renewable energy into regional networks, while reducing reliance on expensive fuel-based generation.
Another potential solution lies in Senegal. The Sangomar oil field, developed by Woodside Energy, produces approximately 100,000 barrels per day. Senegal is upgrading its SAR 2.0 refinery to increase the throughput of local crude oil, with a target annual production capacity of 4 million tonnes upon completion. This expansion will strengthen the region’s fuel self-sufficiency and open up trading opportunities for diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel. Mauritania could use this proximity to reduce its dependence on fuel imports from the UAE and reduce costs by sourcing fuel within the region.
Expanding Mauritania’s hydrocarbon production and regional interconnections could open new trade possibilities. Beyond oil and gas, the country now has opportunities to develop alternative energy sources such as green hydrogen and solar power, establishing itself as a resilient and diverse energy hub in West Africa.
