Mauritania is already one of the leading iron ore and gold producers in Africa and the country has vast mining potential owing to its relative stability in the Sahel region. 

The Islamic Republic enjoys significant mining potential with more than 900 mineral occurrences, including iron ore, copper, gold, silver, phosphates, quartz, diamond, chromium, manganese, lead, zinc, platinum group metals, rare earths, gypsum, black sands, salts and peats.

It produced 14m metric tonnes (mt) of iron ore in 2013, positioning it as the second biggest iron ore producer on the continent after South Africa. It boasts a largely untapped mineral-rich terrain and a vast 20bn mt of iron ore reserves. One of the richest iron ore veins is located at the ridge of Reguibat in the country’s north, with an estimated 2bn mt in reserves. 

Since 1974, Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière (SNIM) — the state-owned industrial and mining company — has served as the primary manager of the country’s iron ore mines, operating the Guelb El Rhein, Kedia d’Idjill and M’Haoudat mines, located in the broader iron ore mining region around the town of Zouerate in the country’s north. Meanwhile, other significant iron ore deposits at Tamagot, Legleitat, Tiferchai and Kaouat — all located close to Zouerate — should help SNIM reach its ambitious production target of 45mn mt by the year 2030.

Mauritania is also one of Africa’s leading producers of copper and gold. Its Guelb Moghrein copper-gold deposit produced roughly 26,363 ounces of gold and 13,000 mt of copper in 2023. It is operated by Mauritanian Copper Mines, a subsidiary of Canadian-based mining and metals company, First Quantum Minerals. The mine produces LME grade A copper cathode, copper in concentrate and gold. Copper production has been steadily increasing since the mine’s commercial operations began in October 2006. 

Meanwhile, the Tasiast Gold Mine — one of the largest mining projects in Africa — has generated around $3.6bn in revenue since 2010. Located 300km north of the capital city, Nouakchott, it produced a record gold production of 620,793 ounces (17.6 mt) during 2023, a 15% increase on the previous year. In 2021, the mine’s operator, Canadian-based gold and silver mining company, Kinross Gold Corporation, announced plans to invest $150m to increase production capacity from 21,000 mt of gold-bearing ore per day to 24,000 mt by 2023. It also plans to extend the mine’s life to 2034 and to undertake new exploration efforts in the region.

The Tasiast mine has required the construction of heavy infrastructure and the building of a mining city in the desert. The first few years of development were focused on earthworks and preparation for operations. Today, the mine has one of the biggest gold mills in Africa and a crusher with a large capacity. 

Additionally, the mine's strong performance has enabled gold to surpass iron ore as the country's top export product. 

Moreover, the Sahel region has been marked by insecurity during the past few years. But Mauritania stands out as one of the most stable countries in the Sahara, an essential factor for attracting foreign investment. 

The IMF estimates that its economy expanded by 4.8% in 2023 and is forecasting a growth of 5% in 2024 and 5.5% next year, healthy figures by African standards. The overall size of the economy is projected to reach $10.6bn in 2024, and the country has 4.5mn inhabitants. Income per capita is $2,300 in 2024. Inflation stands at 2.7%, and the country has a general government gross debt-to-GDP ratio of 48% in 2024. 

Nouakchott has a population of 1.19m. Located in the southwestern part of the country, it is one of the largest cities in the Sahara. 

Mauritania is located on the north-west coast of Africa. The country is generally flat, with arid plains broken by occasional ridges and cliff-like outcrops. A series of scarps face south-west, longitudinally bisecting these plains in the centre of the country. It is the 11th biggest country in Africa with an area of 1.03m sq km, almost twice the size of France. 

Overall, the mining sector's contribution to the country’s GDP shot up from 18% in 2021 to 24% in 2022. This growth was driven by increased extraction of metal ores, particularly gold. The sector also filled the national budget coffers, contributing around 30% of the state’s revenue in 2022. SNIM led the way, followed by Tasiast Mauritanie, the Kinross subsidiary, and Mauritanian Copper Mines. The extractive sector accounted for 76.76% of total exports in 2022. 

Additionally, the artisanal mining sector makes a substantial contribution, amounting to $780mn annually and providing around 145,000 jobs, underscoring the socio-economic vitality of the industry. 

To reach the government’s ambitious target of 45mn mt in iron ore production by 2030, significant investment in infrastructure and logistics must be made. The government’s focus is on producing high-grade iron ore and developing iron ore pellets, aligning with the global shift towards cleaner steelmaking processes.

Medium to longer-term plans also include moving up the value chain to the production of ‘green’ steel, initially through steel pellets. 

Furthermore, Mauritania has more than 80 uranium mineral occurrences and several private companies are actively exploring the mineral in the country's north and south. The country’s total uranium reserves are estimated at 24,500 mt. 

Australian-based exploration and mining company Aura Energy's uranium Tiris Project could produce an annual yield of 2mn pounds (907 mt) of uranium and vanadium. The uranium resource is estimated at 91.3mn pounds (41,400 mt). The project is expected start operations in 2026.

In addition, surveys show huge quantities of highly pure gypsum deposits in the Sebkha de Ndrhamcha marine basin, located 50km north of Nouakchott. Reserves have been estimated at 1.7bn mt. 

Mauritania also has bold plans for ‘green’ hydrogen production. The Aman project, a $40bn venture, aims to produce 1.7mn mt of green hydrogen and 10mn mt of green ammonia annually. This project alone could boost Mauritania’s GDP by 50-60% by 2035.

The Nour project, another green hydrogen initiative, has the potential to be one of the largest globally by 2030. Meanwhile, SNIM and the Indian company ArcelorMittal are exploring the joint production of ‘green’ steel, which would position Mauritania as a leader in sustainable steel production.

Recently, the government awarded licences to local and foreign companies to explore the mineral potential of critical minerals such as lithium and manganese.

At the end of 2023, German technological and mining solutions provider TAKRAF Group signed a deal with SNIM to supply a complete iron ore crushing, screening and materials handling system, coupled with a train loading station for the F’Derick iron-ore project. This $186.8mn investment project aims to produce 2mn mt of iron ore per year and strengthen SNIM’s market position. 

Additionally, Mauritania enjoys one of Africa’s largest offshore hydrocarbon deposits and is poised to become a major world gas producer. The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) natural gas project is scheduled to start production by the end of 2024, with the Banda BirAllah gas field following close behind. Covering an area of 33,000 sq km, GTA contains 1.4 trillion cubic metres of reserves, giving it a production potential of 30 to 50 years. 

However, most of Mauritania’s mining activity has been focused on iron ore and gold extraction. This has left the economy vulnerable to severe fluctuations in global prices for commodities. An equally pressing challenge is that much of the country's production is directly sent abroad and not processed within the country, hindering greater local value addition and long-term economic development.

To support these goals, BMZ — Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development — and the Mauritanian government have teamed up to pursue a path to greater diversification of the mining sector. They want to focus more on non-metallic commodities like limestone, clay for construction materials, phosphates and industrial minerals. 

Moreover, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania was declared an independent state on November 28, 1960. The president, elected by popular vote for a five-year term, is head of state and government and is assisted by the prime minister, whom he appoints. Islamic law and Mālikī jurisprudence have been in force since February 1980. 

Mohamed Ould Ghazouani has been president since August 2019. He appointed Mohamed Ould Bilal as Prime Minister in August 2020. In July 2024, President Ghazouani won a second term in office in a presidential election. Ghazouani, 67, has now started a second five-year term in office. 

The Mining Code (Law No. 2008 - 011) governs mining operations, exploration, prospecting, research and exploitation of mineral substances. The regulatory framework for the mining sector also includes Law No. 2009-026 (amendment to Mining Code); Law No. 2012-014 (amendment to Mining Code); Law No. 2014-008 (amendments to Mining Code); and Law No. 2012-012 regulating mining agreements and approving the standard mining agreement.

Mining in Mauritania faces several key obstacles that impact its operations and development. Infrastructure limitations are a major concern, as the country struggles with inadequate transportation networks and unreliable energy supplies. This lack of essential infrastructure increases transportation costs and complicates mining operations.

A rail link connects the mining centres of Zouérate, Guelb El Rheïn, and Mhaoudat with a port at Nouâdhibou. Most iron ore produced by SNIM is sent Nouadhibou, which allows the company to transport its iron ore abroad. 

However, the current depth available in the access channels limits the size of the vessels that can anchor in the ore terminal. Ships that can dock at the current terminal account for only 6% of the world's available bulk carrier fleet, increasing costs owing to limited availability. 

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has invested heavily in SNIM’s infrastructure, including a $46.9mn loan to widen the port’s access channel.

The harsh desert climate and water scarcity present additional difficulties. Extreme temperatures, sandstorms, and limited water resources complicate mining activities and infrastructure development.

Furthermore, political instability and regional security issues pose additional risks to mining operations.

The illiteracy rate of the population is estimated at around 30-50%, and the country faces a shortage of skilled labour, which has been exacerbated by international companies arriving — mostly in the hydrocarbon sector – and hiring the available skilled labour in trying to meet Mauritanian local labour content regulations.   

Navigating Mauritania’s regulatory and governance environment can be challenging. The complex and frequently changing mining laws, combined with bureaucratic inefficiencies and corruption, can lead to delays and increased costs for obtaining permits and approvals.

Other challenges include a weak judicial system, opaque tax laws, complicated labour laws, and deeply rooted tribal ties that can lead to nepotism and the creation of patronage networks.

Mauritania's mining sector is already one of the biggest contributors to the economy and is poised to become even more significant, by taking advantage of the country’s vast reserves of iron ore, gold and copper. Several important new mining projects are planned. However, to fulfil its potential, the country must address key challenges, including infrastructure deficits and regulatory inefficiencies. If these issues are effectively addressed, the mining industry can continue to flourish and eventually help transform the economy.