Mauritania’s hydrogen pipeline piques Germany’s interest

This pipeline is being planned by several renowned companies, including CWP, Chariot, bp, Conjuncta, and Infinity, and while the aspirations for Mauritania to become a green hydrogen hub are significant, two main challenges lie ahead: financing and building the required infrastructure. As such, the government is prioritising securing investment in these areas, with interest already being seen by global players to the likes of Germany, the World Bank and others.

Mauritania is one of the few nations in the world that have significant potential for both solar and wind energy, making the country both a viable and attractive green hydrogen market. What’s more, its proximity to Europe (just four to five days by sea) is advantageous for exports and a key reason why nations such as Germany are looking at investing. Despite this potential, in an exclusive interview with Energy Capital & Power, Moustapha Bechir, Director General of Hydrocarbons at Mauritania’s Ministry of Petroleum, Mines, and Energy, shared that, “the availability of financing for cleaner projects such as renewable energy and green hydrogen is limited. African nations with tremendous potential must address these obstacles by making their concerns heard in venues like MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2023″ – the region’s premier event for the energy sector.

While Africa has the vast resources for large-scale green hydrogen projects, development is limited due to high capital costs compared to other regions such as Europe, where projects receive subsidies and low-cost financing. Lehbib Khroumbaly, Advisor in Charge of Upstream Hydrocarbons at the Ministry of Petroleum, Mines, and Energy, explains that “Mauritania does not aim to finance green hydrogen entirely on its own, but can finance infrastructure, youth training programmes and common facilities that may support such ventures.”

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Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/31052023/mauritanias-hydrogen-pipeline-piques-germanys-interest/