Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Reinforcing the Electrical Interconnection between Mauritania and Senegal (Nouakchott – Tobein Line)
Loan No: 625 Interest Rate: 2.5 %
Beneficiary: SOMELEC Grace Period: 7 years
Project Cost: KD 59.1 million Maturity: 25 years
Amount of Loan: KD 30.0 million Repayment: 37 semi-annual installments
Date of Board Approval: 2016-02-02 First Installment: 7 years following the first disbursement
Date of Loan Agreement: 2016-02-02 Date of Loan Effectiveness: 2016-09-06


Objectives:

The project aims at reinforcing the electrical interconnection between Mauritania and Senegal in order to allow Mauritania to export the excess energy it expects to produce, from the existing and planned generation projects, to the Senegalese grid, which currently suffers from severe energy shortages.

Description:

The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of the first half of 2018, includes the construction of a 400 km double circuit 225 kV overhead line, starting at the Nouakchott Northern power generating station, in Mauritania, and ending in the city of Tobein, in Senegal. The project also includes the expansion of two existing substations, the construction of three new substations, the provision of the necessary consultancy services to supervise the works, the preparation of a study to assess the feasibility of an additional 225 kV interconnection between Mauritania and Mali, and the provision of institutional support for SOMELEC. The project includes the following main components:

  1. Portion of Works in Mauritania:
    1. Construction of Overhead Line:This includes the construction of a double circuit 225 kV overhead line, 204 km long, extending from the Northern power generating station to the Mauritanian-Senegalese border.
    2. Expansion of the Substation Attached to the Northern Power Generating Station: This includes the expansion of the substation attached to the Northern power generating station, through the addition of two 225 kV bays, including all metering, relaying and protection equipment.
    3. Construction of Beni-Nagi Substation:This includes the construction of a 40 MVA 225/90 kV substation in Beni-Nagi, along with all the necessary metering, protection and control equipment.
    4. Construction of Tigent Substation:This includes the construction of a 40 MVA 225/90/33 kV substation in Tigent, along with all the necessary metering, protection and control equipment.
  2. Portion of Works in Senegal:
    1. Construction of Overhead Line:This includes the construction of a double circuit 225 kV overhead line, 188 km long, extending from the Tobein substation to the Senegalese-Mauritanian border.
    2. Expansion of the Tobein Substation: This includes the expansion of the Tobein substation, through the addition of two 225 kV bays, including all metering, relaying and protection equipment.
    3. Construction of Saint Louis Substation:This includes the construction of a 40 MVA 225 kV substation in Saint Louis, along with all the necessary metering, protection and control equipment.
  3. Consultancy Services:This includes the necessary consultancy services for assisting in the execution of contracts, review of project designs, supervision of works, and participation in witness testing and project taking over.
  4. Study to Assess the Feasibility of Reinforcing the Interconnection between Mauritania and Mali: This includes performing a study to assess the feasibility of reinforcing the existing Mauritania-Mali interconnection on 225 kV.
  5. Institutional Support: This includes the construction of laboratories, acquisition of instruments and equipment for locating faults on lines, training of SOMELEC staff on their use, and acquisition of maintenance management software.
  1. Construction of Overhead Line:This includes the construction of a double circuit 225 kV overhead line, 204 km long, extending from the Northern power generating station to the Mauritanian-Senegalese border.
  2. Expansion of the Substation Attached to the Northern Power Generating Station: This includes the expansion of the substation attached to the Northern power generating station, through the addition of two 225 kV bays, including all metering, relaying and protection equipment.
  3. Construction of Beni-Nagi Substation:This includes the construction of a 40 MVA 225/90 kV substation in Beni-Nagi, along with all the necessary metering, protection and control equipment.
  4. Construction of Tigent Substation:This includes the construction of a 40 MVA 225/90/33 kV substation in Tigent, along with all the necessary metering, protection and control equipment.
  1. Construction of Overhead Line:This includes the construction of a double circuit 225 kV overhead line, 188 km long, extending from the Tobein substation to the Senegalese-Mauritanian border.
  2. Expansion of the Tobein Substation: This includes the expansion of the Tobein substation, through the addition of two 225 kV bays, including all metering, relaying and protection equipment.
  3. Construction of Saint Louis Substation:This includes the construction of a 40 MVA 225 kV substation in Saint Louis, along with all the necessary metering, protection and control equipment.

Financing:

The Arab Fund’s loan covers about 51% of the total project cost. It is expected that the Islamic Development Bank will contribute to the financing of the project with an amount equivalent to about KD 26 million (about 44%). The Mauritanian Government will cover the remaining cost of the project and any additional cost that may arise.