Mauritania meets with EU to discuss cooperation around green hydrogen

Mauritania’s Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mohamed Ould Khaled, received a “high level” delegation from the EU led by Jozef Síkela the Commissioner for International Partnerships.

This visit aims to strengthen cooperation between Mauritania and the European Union in the fields of energy and green hydrogen.

What The Leaders Had to Say

In his opening speech, Minister Mohamed Ould Khaled stressed the importance of the partnership with the EU, highlighting their shared vision of sustainable development and energy transition.

Khaled stressed that Mauritania, thanks to its strategic geographical location and abundant natural resources, is a reliable partner ready to assume a leading role in the development of renewable energies and green hydrogen.

Khaled further added “We are proud to be the first African country to implement a dedicated green hydrogen law, a fundamental step to attract investment and position Mauritania as a future regional hub for clean energy”.

The European Commissioner Jozef Síkela, reiterated that this visit reflects the coordination with Mauritania to advance cooperation in the field of energy, particularly in the field of green hydrogen.

According to Síkela, this visit follows a visit from the previous year, as well as a mission involving key representatives of the European private sector exploring investment opportunities in green energy.

The Commissioner highlighted the enormous energy potential, political stability and peace that prevail in Mauritania, noting that these qualities make it a prime candidate to host the EU’s upcoming projects in the field of clean and renewable energy production.

Key Areas Of Collaboration

The meeting covered several key areas of collaboration, including:

Green Hydrogen: The Minister presented Mauritania’s proactive measures to develop the green hydrogen sector, including through the establishment of a robust legal and regulatory framework designed to attract global investment.

Infrastructure: Discussions highlighted the need for advanced infrastructure to support renewable energy projects, such as the high-voltage transmission line from Nouakchott to Néma.

Sustainable Industry: The dialogue also explored potential collaboration in the production of green steel, capitalising on Mauritania’s vast reserves of natural resources, particularly iron ore.