The African Development Bank (AfDB) is supporting Mauritania’s efforts to develop a green hydrogen sector through initiatives under the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa, including the Africa Energy Transition Catalyst and the Africa Energy Sector Technical Assistance Program. A high-level workshop held in Nouakchott on 14–15 April 2026 brought together stakeholders to validate and finalise auction procedures for green hydrogen and related products, marking a key step in structuring the country’s emerging clean energy market.
The programme, known as the “Support to Mauritania Green Hydrogen Sector Development Programme,” is the AfDB’s first technical assistance initiative dedicated to green hydrogen in Africa. It is designed to help Mauritania’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum build the regulatory, legal, and institutional foundations required to scale the sector and attract private investment. Officials noted that the initiative is aimed at transforming the country’s renewable energy potential into viable, bankable industrial projects.
Since its launch in April 2025, the programme has focused on developing a structured auction framework, preparing standardised bidding documents, establishing a legal and regulatory foundation, and creating a roadmap for implementation. These measures are intended to ensure transparent and competitive procurement processes that can support long-term investment in green hydrogen production.
Government officials emphasised that the auction system is a critical step in unlocking Mauritania’s renewable energy resources for sustainable industrial growth, job creation, and economic development. The framework is also expected to position the country as a competitive player in the global green hydrogen market.
Ahead of the validation workshop, capacity-building sessions were held to strengthen institutional readiness across key areas such as auction design, infrastructure planning for hydrogen hubs, and financial structuring for power-to-X and hydrogen projects. These sessions aimed to improve technical understanding and ensure effective coordination among public institutions involved in the sector.
The workshop brought together more than 25 senior representatives from multiple government bodies and state-owned enterprises, reflecting strong institutional coordination. Participants included officials from ministries responsible for energy, environment, state assets, and ports, as well as national industrial and hydrocarbons organisations. This broad engagement highlights the government’s commitment to building a unified and investment-ready hydrogen ecosystem.
AfDB representatives described the workshop as an important milestone in translating Mauritania’s ambitions into a structured and bankable procurement system. They emphasised that combining technical auction design with capacity building will help public institutions engage effectively with private investors and deliver large-scale projects.
Mauritania has set an ambitious target of producing 12.5 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2035 and is part of the Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance, alongside several other leading African economies. The feedback from the workshop will be used to finalise the auction framework, supporting the country’s goal of becoming a major hub for green hydrogen development in Africa.
