MAURITANIA– Spanish energy company Elecnor has offloaded its stake in the Boulenouar wind power project, located in Western Mauritania, to German company Siemens AG.

The Spanish energy company Elecnor is withdrawing after helping to set up the consortium responsible for the development of this clean energy project.

The consortium was originally comprised of Elecnor, German company Siemens, and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, a wind energy specialist based in Zamudio, Spain.

The share acquisition by Siemens significantly increases the German company’s share in the consortium that it now controls with its partner Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.

Although Elecnor did not provide reasons for withdrawal from the project is which is expected to become the largest clean energy project analysist opine that the company might have do so to concentrate its wind energy production activities in Latin America.

Despite of the new development in the ownership of the Boulenouar wind power project the benefits of the project are still eagerly awaited in the country.

Mauritania currently produces 380MW of power mainly from thermo power plants which generate about 76% of the total installed capacity.

The last 24% is insured by the electricity importation coming from Manantaly hydro power plant based in Mali.

The North Western Africa however has population growth of around 2,6% per year, a factor which when combined with increased urbanization is affecting the energy consumption necessitating an evolution in the energy supply.

Mauritania, under its 2016 Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity Strategy, considers energy to be a priority for poverty reduction.

As a result, Mauritania’s government is working to expand its electricity supply and encourage investment in the renewable energy sector to stimulate the economy.

The ‎€140 million Boulenouar wind power project is among such projects being relied on by Mauritania to boost electricity supply in the country.

The Boulenouar wind power is projected to inject 100 MW into Mauritania’s national electricity grid once fully completed.

The promoters of the project have already received an investment promise of ‎€ 120 million euros from the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), a financial institution, part of the Arab League.

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