In a bold shift towards energy reform and economic transformation, Mauritania has declared that all new electricity generation will now be privately owned and operated, signaling a full transition away from state-owned power production.

Announced at the Invest in African Energy 2025 Forum in Paris, the country’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Mohamed Ould Khaled, unveiled sweeping reforms to fast-track the development of gas-powered electricity projects and unlock Mauritania’s renewable and hydrogen potential.

Within weeks, Mauritania will launch tenders for a major independent power project tied to the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas field, a transnational resource shared with Senegal. Two key private sector-led projects, drawing on domestic gas, are already in development and set to inject 550 MW into the national grid in the near term.

“All new electricity generation projects in Mauritania will be private,” the minister declared. “State-owned companies will no longer participate in electricity production.”

This move is part of a broader strategy to harness Mauritania’s abundant natural gas, solar, and wind resources not just to electrify homes, but to fuel industrialization, boost mining output, and drive inclusive economic growth. The country currently has a 57% electricity access rate and is targeting universal access by 2030.

Central to this transformation is the GTA gas project, which will supply fuel for a new 250 MW combined-cycle power plant in each country, a flagship example of public-private cooperation and regional integration.

But Mauritania’s ambitions don’t stop at gas. With wind speeds averaging 10 meters per second and some of the highest solar irradiation levels in Africa, the country is positioning itself as a future powerhouse in green hydrogen.

“Mauritania has the largest portfolio of green hydrogen projects in Africa, designed not only to export molecules, but also to catalyze the country's industrialization and decarbonize hard-to-achieve sectors.“ Ould Khaled said. 

Mauritania has backed its ambitions with sweeping reforms: a modernized energy regulatory framework, a pioneering green hydrogen code, and a new PPP investment policy designed to provide clarity and confidence for investors.

The country’s long-term energy vision includes developing the massive BirAllah gas field, expanding GTA output to 10 million tonnes of LNG per year, cross-border power trade, and deeper integration of renewables into its energy mix.

With Europe eyeing African energy markets and global demand rising for low-carbon fuel sources, Mauritania is setting itself up as a future hub not just for electricity, but for sustainable economic leadership across Africa and beyond.