The governments of the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania held their second Energy Security Dialogue on November 21 to consolidate advances and explore new opportunities for collaboration and partnership in the energy sector.
The Mauritanian government outlined its energy sector plans including regulatory improvements to facilitate its energy transition goals, according to the joint statement by the two countries. The United States detailed ongoing technical cooperation in the electricity sector and provided updates on support to advance Mauritania’s sustainable critical mineral governance and development through the State Department’s Energy and Mineral Governance Program.
The Energy Security Dialogue included a session with U.S. energy companies in the hydrocarbon and renewable energy sectors, where participants discussed improvements to Mauritania’s investment climate and steps that can be taken to unlock additional opportunities. The United States congratulated Mauritania on progress with its offshore gas development and both governments emphasized their desire to increase bilateral commercial ties across the energy sector, noting Mauritania’s emergence as a significant gas producer.
The two sides also reviewed achievements since the inaugural Energy Security Dialogue in 2022, such as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Clean Energy Cooperation signed during COP28, the ongoing techno-economic analysis (TEA) conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for decarbonized iron and steel production, the State Department’s Power Sector Program training held in Nouakchott in April 2024, the U.S. Embassy-led trade mission to the 2024 Offshore Technology Conference, and a technical agreement on mining governance.
The Dialogue was chaired for the United States by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Kimberly Harrington and co-chaired for Mauritania by Minister of Energy and Petroleum Mohamed Khaled, and Minister of Mines and Industry Tidjani Thiam. With interagency participation from both countries, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for West African Affairs Michael Heath, U.S. Charge d’Affaires John T. Ice also delivered opening remarks, and Coordinator Richard Nelson spoke on behalf of Power Africa. Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey Pyatt, who traveled to Nouakchott in July 2024 for the inauguration of President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, concluded the event.