Mauritania has revealed ambitious plans aimed at producing 12.5 million tons of green hydrogen annually by 2035 and capturing up to 1.5% of the global hydrogen market and up to 1% of the global green steel market by 2050.
During a meeting with President Ghazouani earlier this year, the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of green hydrogen in this process , stating: “The production of green steel requires green hydrogen as a vital input. That’s why hydrogen is important for Mauritania and Europe, aligning our interests.”
To attain these goals, the country is concentrating on large-scale projects, such as the 35 GW Megaton Moon by Danish developer GreenGo Energy, the 16-20 GW Aman project by CWP, and the 10 GW Project Nour by TotalEnergies and Chariot.
Additionally, an additional 10 GW facility is being jointly developed by Egyptian utility company Infinity and Conjuncta.
With substantial potential in solar and wind energy, Mauritania emerges as a compelling green hydrogen market, with development potential estimated at around 457.9 GW for solar and 47 GW for wind projects.
Its proximity to Europe presents export advantages, while also offering opportunities to foster local industries and improve infrastructure.
Establishment of a Domestic Green Steel Industry
Mauritania shipped out 13 million tons of iron ore in 2022, being the Africa’s second-largest iron producer, with the government targeting a tripling of this figure by 2030. However, the country exports its majority of iron in its raw ore state.
Mauritania has yet to fully tap into the potential advantages of manufacturing and exporting steel products due to high production costs and limited energy sources. With the emergence of clean energy, local processing into green steel could spark the growth of a domestic manufacturing sector. This could yield domestic revenue and offer an exportable product to the European Union (EU).
Investors anticipate that Von der Leyen’s remarks will expedite investment in this sector, where multiple green steel projects are currently underway in Mauritania.
In December 2023, Mauritanian Minister of Energy, Petroleum, and Mines Nani O. Chrouga signed an MoU with David Turk, Deputy Secretary of Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy, to evaluate Mauritania’s potential for carbon-free steel production while leveraging American technology, notably from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
The state-owned Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière (SNIM) and steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal signed in 2022 an MoU to jointly assess the development of iron ore pelletizing and direct reduced iron plants in Mauritania.
SNIM would supply the iron ore feedstock, with the project aiming to produce 2.5 million tons of green steel annually.
Green steel industry in Mauritania demands infrastructure investment
Yet, establishing a green steel industry necessitates investment, particularly in infrastructure. Iron extraction and steel manufacturing processing plants require substantial power, mandating connections to ports for export. Potential off-takers could invest in these ventures. V
on der Leyen proposed that the European Union’s €300 billion Global Gateway grant to Mauritania will fund new road infrastructure between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, facilitating the development of the green hydrogen sector. The fund might also aid in the construction of a new high-voltage power transmission line.
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