Mauritania signs first IPP for 60-megawatt hybrid power plant deal

• Mauritania inked its first independent power producer contract—a USD 300m, 60-MW solar-wind hybrid with Iwa Green Energy—to strengthen supply and cut fuel imports.

Mauritania has signed a landmark USD 300 million agreement with Iwa Green Energy to deliver a 60-MW hybrid solar-wind project, the country’s first independent power producer (IPP) contract. The deal signals a new chapter in how Mauritania finances and operates generation: private capital builds and runs the plant under a long-term contract, delivering predictable output while the state focuses on planning and regulation.

Hybrid design is the pragmatic choice for Sahelian conditions. Solar anchors daytime supply; wind often rises at night and during certain seasons. Together, they smooth the output profile and reduce reliance on costly, imported diesel. While storage was not specified, preserving pad space and transformer headroom for a future battery is increasingly standard—allowing energy shifting into evening peaks and fast frequency response as the grid modernizes.

The structure should attract lenders comfortable with IPP frameworks: long-dated offtake, transparent tariff setting, and robust performance obligations. Risk mitigation will center on resource assessments, EPC and O&M capabilities in remote settings, and contingency logistics for spare parts and service. Grid integration plans—reactive power support, fault ride-through, and protection settings—will be tailored to Mauritania’s network, with SCADA enabling remote monitoring and dispatch.

Local impact extends beyond electrons. Construction will create jobs and demand for services; operations sustain technical roles and training pathways that build a domestic skills base. Environmental and social plans typically include biodiversity protections, dust and erosion control, community engagement, and clear decommissioning provisions—elements that underpin long-term social license.

Strategically, the project diversifies Mauritania’s supply mix and sets a replicable template for future private investments. As demand grows from households, mining, and potential green-hydrogen pilots along the coast, bankable clean capacity becomes a competitive advantage. If execution matches ambition, the first IPP won’t be the last—it will be the model that turns policy into reliable, affordable, lower-carbon power.