Mauritania Energy Information

Total Energy Consumption

Energy consumption per inhabitant is estimated at 0.33 toe, including 230 kWh of electricity (2018).

Total energy consumption is growing rapidly (+4%/year, on average, during the last decade) and stood at 1.5 Mtoe in 2018.

Oil covers 65% of the country's energy needs; biomass contributes 33% and hydroelectricity only 1%. Oil is mainly used for electricity production (43%) and by the transport sector (43%) (2018).

Graph: CONSUMPTION TRENDS BY ENERGY SOURCE (Mtoe)

Interactive Chart Mauritania Total Energy Consumption

Crude Oil Production

Oil production started in 2006 at the Chinguetti oil field at a level of 1.5 Mt, but was halved in 2007 and has almost disappeared since then (0.13 Mt in 2018). This situation was mainly due to technical difficulties (geological problems, maintenance, gas leaks, false alarms, closure of a well, rise in the level of water, etc.) and the geological structure of the field.

The country's only refinery stopped operating in 2000.

Interactive Chart Mauritania Crude Oil Production

Renewable in % Electricity Production

In the SCAPP, the Government has set the objective to reach a share of 50% in the energy mix in 2020 (34% in 2018).

Interactive Chart Mauritania Share of Renewables in Electricity Production (incl hydro)

CO₂ Fuel Combustion/CO₂ Emissions

In its NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution), the country set a GHG emissions reduction target of 22% in 2030, compared to a BAU scenario. The actual target will depend on the availability of international support for financing, capacity building and also technology transfer.

CO₂ emissions from energy combustion are increasing rapidly (around 6%/year since 2006). In 2018, energy emissions stood at 3.1 MtCO₂.

Graph: CO₂-ENERGY EMISSIONS (MtCO₂)