Mauritania is accelerating the expansion of its electricity sector by combining natural gas with renewable energy as it seeks to meet rapidly growing demand and achieve universal access to power by 2030, according to government plans and energy sector officials.
Demand for electricity has been rising steadily, driven by population growth, urbanisation and economic activity, particularly in the capital Nouakchott and other major cities. To respond, the government is pursuing a dual strategy that relies on domestically produced gas alongside large-scale solar and wind projects, supported by major investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Thermal generation, which currently dominates Mauritania’s electricity mix, is expected to remain the backbone of supply in the coming years. Authorities have confirmed progress on the expansion of the Nouakchott thermal power plant, which will raise installed capacity to 252 megawatts (MW) from 180 MW.
Two additional gas-fired power plants are planned in the medium term. One is a 225-MW facility in Ndiago, which will be supplied by gas from the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) offshore field, a cross-border project with Senegal that has recently entered production. The second is a 300-MW plant linked to the Banda gas field, with operations scheduled to begin in 2028.
Officials say the increased use of domestic gas is expected to reduce reliance on imported fuels, improve energy security and help stabilise electricity costs, while providing reliable baseload power to support industrial and urban growth.
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At the same time, Mauritania is scaling up investment in renewable energy as part of its long-term energy transition. Construction began in December 2025 on a 220-MW hybrid solar and wind power project equipped with 370 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery storage. The project is fully financed by the private sector and is expected to strengthen supply during peak demand and reduce intermittency.
Renewable energy already accounts for 44.36% of Mauritania’s energy mix, according to the National Energy Pact published under the Mission 300 initiative, which aims to accelerate electricity access across Africa. The government has committed to raising the share of renewables to 70% of total electricity generation by 2030.
Power generation expansion is being matched by sustained investment in grid infrastructure, which authorities say is critical to improving reliability and extending access beyond urban centres. Equipment for the high-voltage Nouakchott–Zouerate transmission line is expected to be delivered by the end of February, with commissioning scheduled for 2026. The line is designed to strengthen connections between the capital and northern mining regions, which are among the country’s largest electricity consumers.
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The government has also launched tenders for the Nouakchott–Néma interconnection, aimed at improving power supply to the country’s eastern regions. In addition, work is ongoing to reinforce and modernise the electricity distribution network in Nouakchott, where demand has been rising fastest.
These investments come as Mauritania seeks to close a significant electricity access gap. National access currently stands at about 55%, with rural areas particularly underserved. Under its National Energy Pact, the country aims to provide electricity access to an additional 3.4 million people by 2030, reaching a national access rate of 100%.
Achieving that goal will require not only new generation capacity but also expanded transmission lines, distribution networks and off-grid solutions in remote areas. The government has said it plans to increase installed generation capacity by a factor of 1.66 by the end of the decade to keep pace with demand growth.
Energy officials say the combined focus on gas, renewables and infrastructure is intended to balance short-term supply security with longer-term climate and development objectives, positioning Mauritania to support economic growth while reducing emissions over time.
