Morocco and Mauritania have solidified their growing partnership by signing an electric grid interconnection agreement in Nouakchott.
This deal, signed on February 4, 2025, was championed by Morocco’s National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) Director General Tarik Hamane and Mauritania’s Electricity Company (SOMELEC) Director General Sidi Salem Mohaned Elabd, representing a major leap in regional energy cooperation.
The agreement aligns with King Mohammed VI’s directives to enhance bilateral relations and regional integration, focusing on the Royal Atlantic Initiative, which promotes South-South cooperation and African unity.
The electric grid interconnection project is designed to improve the stability and performance of both countries’ energy infrastructures. By linking Morocco’s advanced power grid to Mauritania’s developing network, the initiative opens opportunities for renewable energy development, capitalizing on both nations’ vast clean energy potential.
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This collaboration also aims to strengthen energy exchanges between Morocco, Mauritania, Europe, and West Africa, contributing to the West African Power Pool (WAPP).
The agreement’s impact extends beyond the technical aspects, as it will foster greater collaboration between the two countries through knowledge sharing and professional exchanges.
As Mauritania seeks to benefit from Morocco’s expertise in electrification, this partnership addresses the country’s electricity access challenges. While 100% of Morocco’s population has electricity access, nearly half of Mauritania’s population, especially in rural areas, still lacks reliable power. As technical teams from ONEE and SOMELEC quickly began their preparatory meetings, the urgency to implement this transformative project was clear.
In addition to the power grid, both countries are working on a gas pipeline project with Senegal to further enhance regional energy integration. This cooperation is also part of Mauritania’s broader shift toward Morocco, as it distances itself from Algerian-led initiatives and seeks to bolster its energy and security partnerships amidst growing instability in the Sahel region.