Mauritania energy mix & electricity
Power plants in Mauritania produced 2.1 TWh of electricity in 2024. Oil dominates the mix with 77.3%, followed by hydropower at 10.1% and solar power at 7.7%.
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | 1.6 | 77.3% | −1.4 |
| Hydro | 0.21 | 10.1% | −7.3 |
| Solar | 0.16 | 7.7% | +4.8 |
| Wind | 0.1 | 4.8% | +3.9 |
| Total | 2.07 | 100% |
Mauritania: electricity in context
Power plants in Mauritania produced 2.1 TWh of electricity in 2024. That puts it in the same league as Malta. Oil dominates the mix with 77.3%, followed by hydropower at 10.1% and solar power at 7.7%.
The renewable share stood at 22.7%, placing Mauritania 105th of 158 ranked countries. That is 11 points below the world average of 33.8%. It is also below the average for Africa (24.7%). Each kilowatt-hour emitted on average 512 g CO₂e, against a world average of 458 g. The grid is more carbon-intensive than the world average. In the cleanest-grid ranking, Mauritania is 100th of 158.
Since 2014, oil has added the most generation in absolute terms (+790 GWh), yet its share of the mix fell by 1.4 percentage points because other sources grew even faster. In share terms the biggest gainer was solar power (up 4.8 percentage points). The net effect: renewables gained 1.4 percentage points of share since 2014. Total generation grew by 1 TWh over the same period.
Coal has essentially never been burned for electricity here: its share has stayed below 1% throughout the record.
Solar (7.7%) and wind (4.8%) now add up to 12.6% of generation; the global figure is 17.3%. Per person, that is 31 kWh of solar electricity a year, versus a global average of 338 kWh. Solar first passed 1% of the mix in 2013.
Generation per person is 400 kWh a year, 10% of the world average of 3,860 kWh. Mauritania is a net importer of electricity, buying 300 GWh more than it sells, about 13% of its demand.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Mauritania against the world and Africa averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Per person, that is 4,143 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Domestic extraction of coal, gas and oil, in energy terms.
Power plants in Mauritania
The 7 power plants recorded in Mauritania add up to 0.3 GW of capacity, 42% of it Oil. The largest is Nouadhibou at 120 MW. The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nouadhibou | Gas | 120 | — | — |
| 2 | Guelbs El Rhein | Oil | 67 | — | — |
| 3 | Nouakchott (Thermal) | Oil | 52 | — | — |
| 4 | Nouakchott (Solar) | Solar | 30 | — | — |
| 5 | Nouakchott (Wind) | Wind | 30 | — | — |
| 6 | Zouerate | Oil | 14 | — | — |
| 7 | Zouerate (Solar) | Solar | 3 | 2018 | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 7 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Mauritania
33 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 130 MW of solar and 130 MW of wind operating, plus 113 GW under construction or planned.
How does Mauritania compare?
Mauritania next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mauritania | 22.7% | 22.7% | 77.3% | 512 | 400 | 2.1 | — | |
| Algeria | 1.1% | 1.1% | 98.9% | 633 | 2,058 | 96.4 | Compare | |
| Senegal | 19.8% | 19.8% | 80.2% | 540 | 412 | 7.6 | Compare | |
| Mali | 19.5% | 19.5% | 80.5% | 539 | 243 | 6 | Compare | |
| Gambia | 0% | 0% | 100% | 667 | 185 | 0.5 | Compare | |
| Guinea | 75.2% | 75.2% | 24.8% | 181 | 273 | 4 | Compare | |
| Burkina Faso | 17.2% | 17.2% | 82.8% | 562 | 72 | 1.7 | Compare | |
| Africa average | 24.7% | 25.5% | 74.5% | 544 | 635 | 962 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Mauritania
Mauritania energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Mauritania is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Mauritania?
How clean is the electricity in Mauritania?
Does Mauritania have nuclear power?
How much electricity does Mauritania use per person?
How much solar power does Mauritania produce?
Does Mauritania import electricity?
More countries in Africa
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.