SFD Signs $60 Million Development Agreement To Strengthen Energy Sector In Mauritania

The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) is actively involved in a significant project to supply potable water to Kiffa from the Senegal River. Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, CEO of SFD, was present at the foundation stone ceremony alongside Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani and Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Raqabi. The SFD is contributing to this initiative with a $100 million concessional development loan.

This water project aims to meet the increasing demand for clean drinking water, addressing population needs and reducing dependence on unsafe sources. It also seeks to curb the spread of waterborne diseases and enhance overall water security. The project will benefit over 500,000 people across 25 villages and communities through pipelines extending more than 250 kilometers.

In addition to the water supply project, Al-Marshad signed a $60 million concessional development loan agreement with Mauritania's Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, Abdullah Suleiman Cheikh Sidiya. This agreement supports an electricity interconnection project between Mauritania and Mali, including the development of solar power stations.

The electricity project aims to strengthen Mauritania’s energy sector by expanding transmission and distribution networks. It will connect cities from Nouakchott over a distance of 1,373 kilometers, providing electricity to 150 villages and communities. The plan includes establishing 11 substations at 225 kilovolts with a combined capacity of 600 megawatts.

The initiatives are part of the enduring development partnership between the SFD and Mauritania, which began in 1979. Over this period, the fund has supported 31 projects and programs through concessional loans and grants from Saudi Arabia via the SFD. These efforts have contributed approximately $1 billion towards developing vital sectors across various regions in Mauritania.

These projects are expected to significantly improve living conditions for more than 480,000 beneficiaries by enhancing access to essential resources like water and electricity. The collaboration underscores the commitment of both nations to fostering sustainable development through strategic investments in infrastructure.

With inputs from SPA