Mauritania - Issues and options in the energy sector

Report No. 5224-%IAL! Islamic Republic of Mauritania: Issues and Options in the Energy Sector April 1985 H Report of the joint UNDPtWorld Bank Energy Sector Assessment Program This document has a restricted distribution. Its contents may not be disclo5ed without authorization from the Government, the UNDP or the W orld Bank. : : : -~ -::- -:. --- . . . - :. -.  JOINT UNDP/WORLD BANK ENERGY SECTOR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM REPORTS ALREADY ISSUED Countrv Date Number Indonesia November 1981 3543-IND Mauritius December 1981 3510-MAS Kenva Mav 1982 3800-KE Sri Lanka May 1982 3792-CE Zimbabwe June 1982 3765-ZIM Haiti _une 1932 3672-HA Papua New Gu:nea June 1982 3882-PNG Burundi June 1982 3778-BU Rwanda June 1982 3779-RW Malaawi August 1982 3903-MAL Bangladesh October 1932 3873-ED Zambia _anuarv 1983 4110-ZA Turkey March 1983 3877-TU Bolivia Aprl! 1983 4_213-3Q Fiji J'une 1983 4462-FIJ Solomcn T slands Ju;ne 1983 4404-SQL Senegal JuLv 1983 4182-SE Sudan _Jul 1983 45il-SU UTga nda jIL y 1983 4453-UC Niger;a August 1983 4440-UNI Nepal August 1983 4-74-NEP Camb-:a November 1933 47'43-CM ?er-. January 1934 4677-PE Costa R:ca January 1934 4655-CR Lesithc - G anuary .94 46576-LSO Se,:c-.- ies _anuary 19 4693-SE. Mcroccc :'arch 1934 4157-MOR Portu'3 A>rri 1q84 4824-PO Nigr M ay 98A 4'62-N'R .ttt :i a Ju-T lv 19,4 4.7'4- I Cane .erde August 19.4 5073-CV Guinea R:ssau Augutll 1934 5083-CUB Botswana Ssztember 1934 4998-ET St. Vinc-tnt_ anda t-e Grena.d:nes September i934 5103-5TV St. Luci a SeDtenber 1984 S111-51W Paraguay October 1984 5145-PA Tanzan.ia November 1984 4969-TA Yemen Arab Republic December 198' 4892-YAR Liberia December l934 5279-LBR  FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY REPORT NO. 5224-MAU ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF MAURITANIA ISSUES AND OPTIONS IN THE ENERGY SECTOR APRIL 1985 This is one of a series of reports of the Joint UNDP/World Bank Energy Sector Assessment Program. Finance for the work has been provided, in part, by the UNDP Energy Account, and the work has been carried out by the World Bank. The report has a restricted distribution. Its contents may not be disclosed without authorization from the Government, the UNDP or the World Bank.  ABSTRACT Mauritania's known energy resources are scarce. They essen- tially consist of a fragile forest cover and wind and solar energy. In spite of its relatively low level of energy consumption, less than 0.2 toe per canita per year, Mauritania is faced with two pervasive problems -- rapid cieforestation aggravated by the Sahelean draught and high cost of petroleum imports. Woodfuels still satisfy about one-half of net energy consumption and over 90Z of residential energy requirements and unless their use is substantially reduced, accessible forest reserves will be totally destroyed within 20 years or so. Petroleum imports supply all of the country's non-woodfuel energy and in 1983 absorbed 12% of export earnings. The lack of indigenous energy resources limits the options available for alleviating these constraints. The problem has been compounded by policy inadequacies and weak institutions. Mauritania thus faces formidable problems in meeting future energy requirements. This necessitates a well-integrated strategy which should be composed of energy conservation and substitution through appropriate energy pricing as well as non-price measures; forestry and woodfuels development through fores. management and protection, tree planting, and dissemination of improved stoves; hydrocarbon exploration; selective wind and solar devel- opment; and strengthening of the institutional and manpower capabilities at the operating agencies as well as the Energy Directorate in charge of energy planning. Investment requirements in the energy sector during 1984-95 are estimated at around US$150-165 mn. In an effort to improve coordination of external assistance, the report provides a priority ranking of development expenditure in the energy sector and also lists priority areas for technical assistance.  ACRONYMS ADEREM Association pour le D6veloppement des Energies Renouvables en Mauritanie AGRYHMET Agro Hydro Meterological Project ASECNA Agence pour la Securite de la Navigation Aerienne en Afrique et & Madagascar CEAO Communaut6 Economique d'Afrique de l'Ouest CEST College d'Etudes Superieures Techniques CFPP Centre de Formation et de Perfection Professionelle CNEA Cellule Nationale des Energies Alternatives CRES Centre Regional d'Energie Solaire (Bamako, Mali) DPN Direction de Protection de la Nature EOF Electricite de France EIB European Investment Bank ESIE Ecole Superieure Interafricaine de l'Electricit6 LCT Lycee et Callege Technique MEPP Societe Mauritanienne d'Entreposage des Produits P&troliers OMVS Organisation de Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Senegal SMCPP Soci6te Mauritanienne de Commercialisation des Produits P6troliers SNIM Societe Nationale Industrielle et Miniere SOMIR Societe Mauritanienne d'lndustrie de Raffinage SONADER Societe Nationale pour le D6veloppement Rural SONELEC Societe Nationale d'Eau et Electricite STPN Societ6 des Transports Publiques Nationaux UNSO United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS Currency Unit: Ouguiya (UM) US$ I.- = UM 55.-a = UM 80. - b/ UM 1.0 million = USS18182af = USS12,500 b/ MEASUREMENTS Bbi Barrel of Oil =0.15899 Cubic Meter; 42 US Gallons Gallon =3.7853 Liters GWh Gigawatt-hour = 1,000,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) K (k) Kilo = 1,000 km Kilometer = 0.62 miles = 1,000 meters kV Kilovolt = 1,000 Volts k