Mauritania will soon begin construction of a 220-megawatt hybrid power plant in Nouakchott under a public-private partnership, the Ministry of Energy announced on Wednesday. The project, the first of its scale and design in the country, combines solar and wind energy with advanced battery storage to enhance grid stability and service quality.
The facility will comprise a 160MW solar photovoltaic plant, a 60MW wind farm, a 370MWh battery storage system, and a 225/33kV transformer station linking the plant to the national grid operated by Somelec. With an estimated cost of around 120 billion Mauritanian ouguiya, the project will be fully financed by the private sector through a partnership between the Mauritanian government and the Istithmar West Africa (IWA) Group, via its subsidiary Istithmar Green Energy, which will handle development, financing and operations.
Implemented under a 15-year concession, the plant will be transferred to Somelec at the end of the contract. Commercial production is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2026. Authorities say the initiative aligns with Mauritania’s national energy transition strategy, aiming to lower electricity costs, boost competitiveness, create jobs, transfer technical expertise, reduce pollution and strengthen reliance on domestic renewable energy resources.
