A protocol agreement between Morocco and Mauritania was signed on Thursday in Rabat to expand bilateral partnership in the electricity and renewable energy sectors and to intensify the exchange of expertise in electrical safety.
Signed by the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, and her Mauritanian counterpart, Mohamed Ould Khaled, this protocol focuses on the implementation of projects aimed at electrifying rural areas, promoting initiatives for clean energy, and harmonizing electrical standards between the two countries.
It also provides for the exchange of expertise, technologies, and best practices in network management and energy security, as well as strengthening human skills through joint training programs.
The agreement is part of the ambition to contribute to energy security, diversify supply sources, and examine the establishment of an electrical interconnection project, allowing for the stabilization of networks and improving electricity supply.
On this occasion, Ms. Benali emphasized that the signing of this protocol marks the beginning of a new phase of cooperation between the two ministries, as well as between public and private sector institutions in Mauritania and Morocco, in the key sectors of renewable energy, green hydrogen, and sustainable development.
The two neighboring countries are rich in assets and potential that can foster the development of numerous projects capable of promoting sustainable economic and social development, and consolidating regional integration between the European and African continents, with all that entails in terms of strengthening Africa’s positioning in the global economy, she stated to the press.
The Mauritanian minister, for his part, affirmed that the agreement highlights the privileged fraternal relations between Mauritania and Morocco, noting that the common goal is to elevate bilateral relations to the level of the aspirations of the heads of state of both countries, His Majesty King Mohammed VI and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani.
Mr. Ould Khaled, on a working visit to the Kingdom, highlighted the enormous potential that both countries possess, allowing them to position themselves as leaders in the field of renewable energy and electricity.
Discussions between the two parties also addressed major strategic projects such as the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline as well as renewable energy projects, particularly in the green hydrogen sector. The two ministers affirmed that bilateral relations are founded on a common vision oriented towards sustainable development and the promotion of Africa’s place as a continent with exceptional growth and prosperity potential.
The working visit of the Mauritanian minister is part of the dynamics of consultation and coordination between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, with the aim of intensifying bilateral relations and developing them in accordance with the High Guidelines of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani.
The event brought together several officials from both countries, including the Director General of the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE), the CEO of the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), the secretaries general of the departments of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, and the Director General of Electricity and Renewable Energies in Mauritania.