Nouadhibou: EIB Global and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have announced a joint financing package totaling US$ 275 million aimed at modernising Mauritania’s key railway corridor. The investment, disclosed at the Africa Investment Forum 2025, focuses on enhancing the railway line that connects the iron ore mining hub of Zouerate to the Atlantic port of Nouadhibou.
According to European Union, the funding includes loans of US$ 150 million from the African Development Bank and US$ 125 million from EIB Global, with guarantees provided by the European Union. The financing is structured as a private sector, non-sovereign loan to the Soci©t© Nationale Industrielle et Mini¨re (SNIM). This initiative underscores the commitment of the partners to stimulate corporate investment and support viable infrastructure projects in Africa. The funds will be utilized for rehabilitating the existing railway, constructing 42 kilometres of new track to link future mining sites at El Aouj and Atomai, and acquiring modern locomotives and maintenance equipment. This project aligns with the EU Global Gateway strategy, which focuses on investments in transformative infrastructures, and aims to bolster Mauritania’s integration into global value chains.
The project is spearheaded by SNIM, Mauritania’s largest employer and a pivotal player in national development. It is expected to boost transport capacity, reduce fuel consumption, and enhance safety and reliability along the corridor that is central to the country’s export economy.
Mohamed Vall Mohamed Telmidy, CEO and Board Member of SNIM, expressed gratitude to the partners, stating that the project is a vital component of their strategic program aimed at achieving production objectives. Similarly, AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah highlighted that this financing represents a significant step for Mauritania and the bank’s strategy to boost private sector investment in strategic value chains. The modernization of the railway is poised to open new opportunities for industry and strengthen Mauritania’s role in regional trade.
Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, noted that the project is a testament to the collaboration between the European Union and African partners, following the successful AU-EU Summit in Luanda. Solomon Quaynor, AfDB’s Vice-President for Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialization, emphasized the project’s impact on competitiveness and trade, and its contribution to greener and more inclusive growth in Mauritania.
EU Commissioner Jozef Skela remarked on the strategic and mutually beneficial partnership with Mauritania, underscoring the project’s role in unlocking opportunities and enhancing connectivity between the mining region and global markets.
The railway upgrade is anticipated to create jobs, improve regional connectivity, and increase resilience to climate risks, reinforcing Mauritania’s position as a key partner in the sustainable industrial transformation of the Sahel region. The operation is a flagship project under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, aimed at promoting sustainable infrastructure and responsible value chains for strategic industrial materials.
