Mauritania and Morocco sign a major electricity interconnection agreement.

In a major step forward for regional energy cooperation, Mauritania and Morocco today officially signed an agreement to develop the electricity interconnection between the two countries. The agreement follows on from the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the governments of the two nations in Rabat on 23 January 2025, symbolising a strengthening of bilateral ties and cooperation on the continent.

On the Mauritanian side, the agreement was signed by Mr Sidi Salem Mohamed El Abd, Director of the SOMELEC Group (Société Mauritanienne d'Électricité). On the Moroccan side, it was signed by Mr Tarik Hamane, Managing Director of ONEE (Office National de l'Électricité et de l'Eau Potable), illustrating the shared desire to boost exchanges and synergies between the two countries.

Beyond the simple bilateral electricity connection, this agreement paves the way for a wider interconnection with the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the Desert-to-Power Initiative (DtP). This strategic facility will link North Africa to the West African bloc, facilitating the transmission of electricity to sub-Saharan Africa and, potentially, to Southern Europe (Spain and Portugal) via the Senegal-Mauritania-Morocco axis.

The signing of this agreement coincides with the launch of Mauritania's NATIONAL ENERGY PACT, also known as COMPACT MAURITANIA, unveiled at the M300 Africa Energy Summit held in Dar Essalam, Tanzania, from 27 to 28 January 2025. This ambitious plan focuses on five strategic areas:

• (a) Rehabilitating and extending energy production, transmission and distribution infrastructures at competitive costs,
• (b) Capitalise on the benefits of greater regional integration and the potential for trade between the North and West regions,
• (c) Adopting clean cooking and rural electrification solutions to ensure affordable access to energy,
• (d) Encourage private sector involvement to mobilise additional resources,
• (e) Ensuring a financially viable national electricity company capable of providing reliable and affordable services.

Thanks to its privileged geographical position and immense renewable energy potential - including 457GW of photovoltaic solar power and 47GW of wind power - Mauritania is positioned as a key crossroads for regional electricity interconnections. Its vast desert territory and 94Tcf gas potential further strengthen its role as a hub, both for supplying sub-Saharan Africa and for strengthening energy links with the Maghreb and southern Europe.

This cooperation agreement between Mauritania and Morocco marks a decisive step towards achieving an integrated regional and continental vision. By promoting the development of modern infrastructure and creating cross-border synergies, the two nations are demonstrating their commitment to a sustainable energy transition and greater energy security for the entire region.