Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Development of Electricity Transmission and Distribution Networks
Loan No: 629 Interest Rate: 2.5 %
Beneficiary: SOMELEC Grace Period: 7 years
Project Cost: KD 88.4 million Maturity: 25 years
Amount of Loan: KD 33.0 million Repayment: 37 semi-annual installments
Date of Board Approval: 2014-06-24 First Installment: 7 years following the first disbursement
Date of Loan Agreement: 2015-12-21 Date of Loan Effectiveness: -

Objectives:

The project aims at providing a number of the interior towns in Mauritania with reliable and low cost electric energy. This will be accomplished by interconnecting several towns located in the southern region with the Manantali electric power grid, interconnecting several towns located in the eastern region with two new hybrid power plants currently under construction in the region, along with the electrical interconnection between the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou at 225 kV.

Description:

The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2018 includes the construction of 90 kV and 33 kV substations and transmission lines to provide 5 towns located in the southern region with low cost power available from the Manantali electric power grid, the construction of 33 kV, and below, substations, transmission and distribution lines to supply a number of towns located in the eastern region with the electricity to be generated from two hybrid power plants currently being constructed in the area, along with the construction of 225 kV and 90 kV substations and transmission lines to interconnect the electric networks of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. The project also includes the provision of necessary consultancy services. The project consists of the following main components:

  1. Transmission Network in the Southern Region: This includes the construction of 90 kV and 33 kV substations and transmission lines in the southern region to feed the interior towns of Aleg, Boutilimit, Shegar, Maqtaa Lahgar and Sangrava with electric energy generated from the Manantali dam.
  2. Transmission and Distribution Networks in the Eastern Region: This includes the construction of 33 kV, 15 kV and 0.4 kV substations, transmission and distribution lines to feed several small interior towns and villages located in the eastern region from the energy that will be produced from two hybrid power generating stations currently under construction in the towns of Nema and Adel Bagro.
  3. Electrical Interconnection between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou: This includes the expansion of the 225 kV electric substation attached to the northern power plant in Nouakchott, the construction of a new 225/90 kV main substation in Nouadhibou, connecting both substations with a 225 kV double circuit transmission line, along with the construction of a 40 km transmission line and substation, both at 90 kV, in order to connect the main power generating power plant in Nouadhibou with the main substation under construction there.
  4. Consultancy Services: This includes providing consultancy services necessary to supervise the project works.

Financing:

The Arab Fund’s loan covers about 38% of the total project cost. The Saudi Fund for Development contributes to the financing of the project with a loan equivalent to about KD 45.3 million (about 51%). The Mauritanian Government will cover the remaining cost of the project and any additional cost that may arise.