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Mauritania has signed its first independent power producer contract — a $300 million agreement with Iwa Green Energy — to build a 60-megawatt hybrid solar-wind power plant, Ecofin Agency reported.
The facility, scheduled for commissioning in September 2026, represents a major milestone in the country’s strategy to boost electricity generation through private financing while accelerating its renewable energy transition. Once completed, the project will raise Mauritania’s installed capacity to about 450 megawatts. Minister of Economy and Finance Sid’Ahmed Ould Bouh said the agreement reflects investor confidence in the government’s commitment to diversifying the energy base and providing sustainable power to support economic growth.
With less than 10% of rural households connected to the national grid, Mauritania still relies heavily on imported fuels despite its vast renewable potential. The project forms part of President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani’s ambitious energy transition plan, which focuses on diversifying energy sources, cutting carbon emissions and increasing generation capacity.
Energy Minister Mohamed Ould Khaled highlighted that the fully private financing model will expand supply without adding to public debt. Daniel Schroth of the African Development Bank commended Mauritania for advancing the Desert to Power Initiative, launched in 2019 to harness solar energy across eleven Sahel countries. The initiative aims to generate 10 gigawatts of solar power to benefit 250 million people without electricity, and Mauritania’s project is seen as a significant step toward achieving that goal.
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