In 2022, fossil fuels supplied almost 59% of Mauritania’s electricity consumption, while low-carbon sources provided about 22% and net imports accounted for nearly 19%. Hydropower was the largest identified clean source, supplying roughly 10% of electricity, followed by solar at 7% and wind at 5%. Fossil electricity therefore remained dominant, highlighting the opportunity to expand clean generation and reduce the climate and air-pollution impacts of fossil fuels. The data do not specify the generation mix behind imported electricity.

Is Electricity Growing in Mauritania?

Electricity consumption per person reached a new record of 414 kWh in 2022, exceeding the previous high of 402 kWh in 2020 by 12 kWh, or about 3%. This represents modest progress, but clean electricity did not keep pace: low-carbon generation stood at 92 kWh per person, down 13 kWh, or about 12%, from its 2019 record of 105 kWh. Overall consumption is thus above its previous peak, while low-carbon generation per person remains disappointingly below its own. Stronger clean electricity growth is needed to support wider electricity access and future demand from electrification and digital services.

Suggestions

Mauritania can prioritize solar expansion, alongside electricity networks and storage, while developing wind generation and exploring a long-term role for nuclear electricity through regional cooperation and capacity building. Useful solar examples include Chile, where solar supplies 24% of electricity, and the US state of Nevada, where it supplies about a third; both offer relevant examples for sunny, dry settings. Nearby Morocco demonstrates wind’s potential, generating 20% of its electricity from wind. For nuclear, Mauritania could study the United Arab Emirates, where nuclear supplies 20% of electricity, and France, where it supplies about two-thirds, to learn about workforce development, institutions and sustained clean electricity planning.

History

The supplied historical figures show intermittent gains rather than sustained low-carbon growth. Hydropower recorded no change in the listed years of the early and mid-2000s before increasing by 0.1 TWh in 2009. In the early 2010s, the listed changes for hydropower, solar and wind were zero. Wind then increased by 0.1 TWh in 2015, but hydropower fell by 0.1 TWh in 2016. Solar added 0.1 TWh in 2018, while the remaining listed entries through 2021 showed no change. These isolated advances are welcome, but the periods of stagnation underline the need for a more continuous expansion of clean electricity.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade