Mauritania Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in mauritania, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Oil and Gas
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Mauritania’s oil and gas sector has entered a transformative period. The country achieved a historic milestone in April 2025, when the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project developed jointly with Senegal and operated by BP and Kosmos Energy exported its first cargo of liquefied natural gas. This development positions Mauritania as a new entrant to the global LNG market and is expected to provide a significant and sustained source of revenue for Mauritania. While production from GTA Phase-1 is primarily geared toward exports, the government has made clear its intention to allocate part of the gas to support domestic needs, particularly through gas-to-power projects. The government is currently assessing commercial proposals for a combined-cycle gas turbine plant in the range of 250 megawatts, which would help stabilize the electricity grid, lower costs compared to imported fuels, and supply power for growing industrial demand.

The government is also actively preparing for the monetization of future reserves, including the larger BirAllah field which has a potential capacity of 60 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Mauritania views gas not only as an export commodity but also as a catalyst for industrialization, with opportunities in petrochemicals, fertilizers, and other gas-based industries. As Mauritania expands its energy infrastructure, demand for expertise in operations and maintenance, environmental monitoring, safety systems, and offshore logistics will increase. Concurrently, international financial institutions such as World Bank and the IMF are monitoring how the government will manage these new revenues, with an emphasis on transparency, fiscal stability, and alignment with environmental and social standards.
Opportunities:  The clearest entry points are in services that support GTA offshore maintenance operations, subsea equipment, marine logistics, etc. Companies offering expertise in gas-to-power development, power plant equipment, and environmental monitoring are also well placed as Mauritania pursues domestic utilization. In the medium term, downstream projects in petrochemicals and fertilizers will present new areas for investment once supply for the domestic market is secured.

Resources: Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Mauritanian National Oil Company 

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