Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Construction of a Wind Farm in Boulenoir
Loan No: 632 Interest Rate: 2.5 %
Beneficiary: SOMELEC Grace Period: 7 years
Project Cost: KD 40.9 million Maturity: 25 years
Amount of Loan: KD 35.0 million Repayment: 37 semi-annual installments
Date of Board Approval: 2016-04-06 First Installment: 7 years following the first disbursement
Date of Loan Agreement: 2016-04-06 Date of Loan Effectiveness: 2016-09-06

Objectives:

The project aims at utilizing the favorable characteristics of the Boulenoir area, with respect to the speed and direction of wind, to generate clean, low cost, energy that Mauritania can either consume locally or export to Mali and Senegal via the existing and under construction transmission lines between the three countries as part of the Manantali project. This will be accomplished through the construction of a 100 MW wind farm in the Boulenoir area, and its connection to the national transmission network, which is connected to the Manantali network.

Description:

The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2018, includes the construction of a 100 MW wind farm in the Boulenoir area, close to the city of Nouadhibou, comprising wind turbines, cables, circuit breakers and transformers, all associated civil, mechanical and electrical works, and the connection of the wind farm to the 225 kV transmission line currently under construction between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, along with the provision of all necessary consultancy services. The project includes the following main components:

  1. Wind Farm:This includes the supply and installation of several 24 kV wind turbines, having a total capacity of about 100 MW, along with associated civil, mechanical and electrical works, which include the foundations for the wind turbines, the internal road network, buildings, cables, circuit breakers with their associated measuring, protection and control equipment.
  2. Interconnection to the Grid:This includes the construction of a 225 kV single circuit overhead line, 21 km long, to connect the windfarm to the Nouadhibou 225 kV substation, the supply and installation of two 225/24 kV transformers (one of them to be used as a spare), each rated at 125 MVA, a 225 kV circuit breaker to be installed at the windfarm, along with the necessary measuring, protection and control equipment.
  3. Consultancy Services:This includes consultancy services to assist SOMELEC during contract negotiations, project supervision and participation in equipment witness testing and taking over.

Financing:

The Arab Fund’s loan covers about 86% of the total project cost. The Mauritanian Government will cover the remaining cost of the project and any additional cost that may arise.