In 2022, Mauritania's electricity consumption was primarily driven by fossil fuels, which accounted for almost 60% of the total electricity used. This reliance on fossil fuels is concerning due to the adverse effects on climate and air quality. However, the country has made some strides in the adoption of low-carbon energy sources, with more than 20% of its electricity coming from clean energy. Notably, hydropower contributes slightly more than 10%, while solar and wind energy together make up around 12%. Additionally, Mauritania relies on importing close to 19% of its electricity, which indicates a significant reliance on external sources for its energy needs.
Data sources used on this page include EIA and Ember. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Mauritania?
Analyzing the trends in the growth of electricity consumption, Mauritania has shown a modest increase in its overall electricity usage per person, from 402 kWh in 2020 to 414 kWh in 2022. Although there is a slight rise, what's worrying is the decrease in low-carbon electricity generation per person, which fell from its peak in 2019 from 105 kWh to 92 kWh in 2022. While overall consumption saw a positive change of 12 kWh per person, the decrease in clean electricity by 13 kWh per person highlights a setback in the country's commitment to sustainable energy solutions. The growth in total electricity consumption should ideally be aligned with a corresponding increase in low-carbon generation to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and mitigate environmental impacts.
Suggestions
To further increase low-carbon electricity generation, Mauritania could look towards successful regions that have demonstrated significant achievements in clean energy. For example, countries like Denmark and states such as Iowa have achieved around 60% of their electricity from wind energy, providing an excellent model for expanding wind power infrastructure. Similarly, the solar power industries in regions like Nevada and California, where solar contributes more than 25% of their electricity, could offer valuable insights and strategies for scaling up solar power in Mauritania. While the current consideration of nuclear energy is minimal, the example of France, where nuclear accounts for a substantial 70% of electricity generation, underscores the potential benefits of diversifying energy sources to include nuclear alongside solar and wind for a balanced clean energy transition.
History
Historically, Mauritania's journey towards low-carbon electricity generation has seen periods of little activity interspersed with minor advancements. In the early 2000s, hydropower was the sole contributor to the low-carbon mix, with negligible growth up until 2009 when it made a slight increase of 0.1 TWh. The evolution of solar and wind energy was almost stagnant until 2015, when wind energy saw an uptick of 0.1 TWh, followed by a modest gain in solar energy in 2018 by the same amount. However, a critical setback occurred in 2016 with a decline in hydropower output by 0.1 TWh, highlighting the vulnerability in Mauritania's clean energy progress. Observing these historical patterns makes it vital for Mauritania to ramp up its investment in sustainable technologies to shield future development from such disruptions and align with global clean energy ambitions.
