en.Wedoany.com Reported - Mauritania has signed a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Saudi developer ACWA Power for the development of the 230 MW N'Diago combined-cycle natural gas power project. This project is Mauritania's first natural gas Independent Power Producer (IPP) project and the first large-scale power facility to utilize domestic natural gas from the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project.

The estimated cost of the project is $669 million, employing high-efficiency combined-cycle gas turbine technology to generate electricity for the domestic market. The project aims to reduce dependence on imported fuels by improving power supply and enhancing grid reliability. Both the PPP and PPA have a term of 25 years, with support from the state-owned power company Somelec.

Hasim Ghabashi, Regional President of ACWA Power for Africa, stated in a company announcement that this bankable structure not only strengthens the national platform for industrial growth and energy security but also opens the door for more private investment, giving ACWA a deeper foothold in West Africa.

This project marks a new phase in Mauritania's natural gas monetization strategy. Since production began in early 2025, natural gas from GTA has primarily been exported as liquefied natural gas (LNG). The N'Diago power plant will be the first project to utilize Mauritania's domestic share of natural gas for local power generation.

With GTA producing 2.7 million tons of LNG annually and considering further expansion, this project could establish a framework for future natural gas Independent Power Producers (IPPs) when more domestic natural gas becomes available.