Agency Details
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SMPN Nouakchott
ZRB585 T.Zeina,
Sahel Avenue,
P O Box 40254
Nouakchott
Mauritania
Tel: (+222)5253638
Fax: (+222)5253787
E-Mail: haffed@smpn.mr

Nouakchott port history

Nouakchott, or place of winds, is the capital city of Mauritania and one of the newest capitals in the world. It is located near the West African Atlantic coast and was developed as the capital of Mauritania after it gained independence in 1960. In the past Mauritania lay on one of the most lucrative trade routes in West Africa. It came under control of the Almoravid dynasty of Morocco, and later of the Arabs. Ultimately, France took control of Mauritania and maintained it till Mauritania's independence in 1960. Nouakchott was a major refugee center during the Saharan droughts of the 1970s, and its rapid growth during that period (together with a sharp decline in the number of Mauritania's nomads) was attributed to migration and urbanisation in response to the droughts. The cities growth focuses on a square, the Place de l'Indépendence, and includes an airport and industrial area. It is centrally located on the main north-south highway, connecting the more populated agricultural south with the sparsely populated but mineral-rich north.

Mauritania had always had to rely on neighbouring ports, for it only had the fishing harbour of Nouadhibou, located in the extreme North-West, without any useful links to the Southern, Central and eastern parts of the country. Several projects to build a port were consequently contemplated but due to the peculiar configuration of the coast line which includes a sandy coast, lack of natural safe havens and moving sand banks it did not justify building a traditional harbour with quays.

Plans were consequently drawn up at the beginning of 1963 to build a port called Port Wharf, including the construction of industrial and trade buildings. This became operational in 1966. This wharf, located 350km south of Nouadhibou and 450km north of Dakar was designed to accommodate traffic of up to 50,000 tonnes.

The ports capacity was successfully increased in stages to 200,000 tonnes by improving available equipment and organic growth. This was mainly due to cope with the traffic of copper ore from Akjoujt (120 miles (195 km) northeast).

In 1977 the Wharf was lengthened to provide 3 extra berths for ships of average tonnage raising its capacity to 320,000 tonnes. However, the rapid growth of traffic, coupled with projects developing new industries and the increase in inland trade to land locked countries led to the Mauritanian government to negotiate with the Peoples Republic of China in order to build a deep sea harbour at Nouakchott. These negotiations led to the signature in October 1974 of an economic co-operation agreement in order to build such a port. Preliminary work commenced in 1978 with the foundation stone being laid on 10th April 1979. The inauguration of the Nouakchott deep-sea harbour, christened the 'Port of Friendship' took place on 17th September 1986.

The Autonomous Port of Nouakchott, called PANPA for short, took over the management of the port and as such the port became operational in 1987 attracting trade between the two Capes (White and Green). Stevedoring activities were privatised in 1990 offering competitive storage facilities and warehousing tariffs. While there has been a steady increase in the port's activity, the level of traffic remains below that of the more northern port of Nouadhibou. PANPA's capacity is now estimated to be 1.5 million tonnes per annum and processes more than 90% of Mauritania's imports.

Nouakchott port is an import port representing approximately 96.4 % of all annual traffic. Imported goods include wheat, cement, clinker, flour, sugar, semolina, milk and general equipment. Exports include plaster from Samia, Mauritania's main producer, animal skins and fish.

Cross border relations are enhanced with Mali with the creation of the Entrepôts Maliens en Mauritanie (EMAMAU) which provides a number of warehouses exclusively for Malian cargo. Nouakchott is located on a major highway with a 1,100 kms bitumen road (also known as the 'Road of Hope') connecting Nouakchott with Nema for goods in destined for Nioro or Nara in the Malian Sahel. This road also crosses the towns of Boutilimit and Kiffa.

Road conditions in Mauritania are generally poor, particularly in the interior, and overland travel is difficult. The country's size and harsh climate make road maintenance and repair especially problematic. Vehicles may occasionally be forced off the roads due to drifting sand and dunes. Roaming animals and bush taxis frequently cause accidents.

Mauritania possesses only about 2,070 km (1,286 miles) of surfaced roads, 710 km (441 miles) of unsurfaced roads and 5,140 km (3,194 miles) of unimproved tracks. There are four major roads, each of which links important cities in Mauritania: Nouakchott and Rosso; Nouakchott and Akjoujt; Aleg Boghe and Kaedi; and Nouakchott and Nema (the Road of Hope).

Nouakchott port infrastructure

Port Facilities

Wharf Quai

The port of Nouakchott consists of two quays, one for small vessels (Wharf Quay) with draft less than 5m This quai lies 11 km southwest of the city of Nouakchott. Latitude 18 degrees 02' 08" North, Longitude 16 degrees 01' 43" West. The lighterage quay consists of a working platform of 86 by 21.17 meters overall and is linked by a gangway of 246.5 by 7meters. It also features an extension quay of 55 meters in length with berthing available on both sides.

Port of Friendship Quai

A second quay for larger vessels has a max draft of 10.3m. Known as the 'Port of Friendship Quay' it stretches 585m and split into four berths, three of which are used for cargo handling and the fourth for servicing vessels and tug boats. This quay is located 4km south of the Quai Wharf and 15km southwest of the city of Nouakchott.

The Port of Friendship uses an integrated AS400 computer system developed in co-operation with the Office d'Exploitation des Ports Marocains (ODEP). This offers management transparency and enhances service quality offered to customers.

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Transport News
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China Exim Bank To Finance US$686 Million Railway - 24/01/08
The China Exim Bank has agreed to provide US$686 million for the construction of a 430km railway line connecting Mauritania's third city, Kaedi in the south to the capital Nouakchott. An agreement was signed on 22/01/08 by the Mauritanian Transport Minister Mohameden Ould Ahmed and Dai Chun Li, China Exim Bank general manager. The funds will cover 70% of the total cost of the new railroad with the remainder to be financed by Mauritania's Phosphate Company. Construction will take 3 years. The railway will also run though Tiguint, Mederdra, R'Kiz, Leguatt, Leeleibatt and Menjem Boffal.

Mauritania Pledges Reforms To Attract Higher FDI’s
Mauritanian Economy and Finance Minister Abderahmane Ould Hamma Vezzaz has announced legal, tax and administrative reforms to improve the country's Foreign Direct Investment [FDI]. Also a report released by the World Bank has also revealed several obstacles to the development of private investment in Mauritania and suggested several reforms to improve the business environment. [Pana 24/09/07]

IMF: Mauritanian Economy Grows At 5.7%
The Mauritanian economy posted a 5.7% growth rate in the first six months of the year, despite falling oil revenue. This is the first evaluation by the IMF since the country's new authorities took office in April 2007. The positive appraisal will enable the continuation of reforms in the areas of good governance, accountability and the search for new sources of revenue to correct the shortcomings of the oil sector. [PANA 19/09/07]

Mauritania Pledges Reforms To Attract Higher FDI’s
Mauritanian Economy and Finance Minister Abderahmane Ould Hamma Vezzaz has announced legal, tax and administrative reforms to improve the country's Foreign Direct Investment [FDI]. Also a report released by the World Bank has also revealed several obstacles to the development of private investment in Mauritania and suggested several reforms to improve the business environment. [Pana 24/09/07]

Sudan, China To Build $630 Million Mauritania Railway
Sudan's Danfodio Holding and China's Transtech Engineering have signed an agreement to build a 460 million euro railway linking Mauritania's capital Nouakchott with southern phosphate deposits at Bofal. The deal for the 430-km [290 mile] line, which will run close to the Islamic Republic's southern frontier with Senegal, was signed on 03/08/07 with private Mauritanian investors and Transport Minister Ahmed Ould Mohameden. The Mauritanian government hopes the line will link Mauritania to an existing West African rail network covering Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso. [Reuters 05/08/07]

Mauritania Expects 6.2% Growth Rate In 2007
Mauritania is expected to achieve 6.2% growth rate at the end of 2007, corresponding to a rise of 2.1% compared to last year, according to the minister of Finance and Economy, Abderahmane Ould Hama Vezaz. The inflation rate is likely to remain high around 7%. [Pana 06/08/07]

ECOWAS, Mauritania To Strengthen Economic Partnership
The ECOWAS Commission has opened discussions with Mauritania on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU and the ways of strengthening economic relations. A high-powered delegation led by the Commission’s President, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, recently returned from Nouakchott after a 3-day working visit.

Mauritania withdrew from ECOWAS in 1989 under former president Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya. [APA 18/08/07]

Mauritania’s Abdallahi Sworn In
Mauritania's first democratically elected President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was sworn in on 19/04/07, in a landmark transfer of power from military to civilian rule. The 69-year-old former political prisoner and ex-government minister, took the oath in a ceremony conducted by the head of the country's constitutional court. His swearing in marks the final step in a successful transfer of power from the military junta that took power in a bloodless coup 19 months ago, to a democratically-elected president. Abdallahi also named former central bank governor Zein Ould Zeidane as prime minister. [BBC19/04/07]

Outlook Good For Mauritania Economy
Mauritania's economy continues to perform well. Sound macroeconomic policies helped keep inflation under control, improve confidence in the domestic currency, and enhance the country's external position. There has been substantial progress in the financial sector area, including the promulgation of key financial sector ordinances and the successful debut of the foreign exchange market. [IMF May 2007]

Mauritania Presidential Elections
Former cabinet minister Sidi Ould Sheikh Abdellahi has won Mauritania's historic presidential election. He gained 53% of the ballots, against 47% for opposition leader Ahmed Ould Daddah. The elections were seen as the fairest since the largely desert country gained independence from France in 1960.

Mauritania Re-Admitted Into The AU Fold
Mauritania has regained its seat in the African Union [AU] following its return to constitutional rule, the AU Commission announced. According to a decision taken by the Peace and Security Council [PSC] of the AU at its 76th meeting on 10 April 2007, the suspension measure taken against Mauritania on 4 August 2005 has been lifted. The Council said it was satisfied with the developments that took place since the coup d'etat of 3 August 2005 and the smooth conduct of the process of democratic transition, which culminated in the presidential elections of 11 and 25 March 2007. [PANA 11/04/07]

Mauritania Becomes Best Performing Economy In Africa In 2006
Mauritania has been classified in the first position among the 10 African countries which recorded the best economic performances in 2006, according to "developments in the socioeconomic situation in Africa," a document published by the UN Economic Commission. This document highlights economic stability, appreciation of the value of the national currency, as well as investments in the new sectors of hydrocarbons, mineral exploration, tourism and fishing as factors. The nine other countries which recorded the best economic results in 2006 are Angola, Mozambique, Sudan, Ethiopia, Libya, Liberia, DRC, Congo, and Malawi. [Xinhua 01/04/07]

New Dock In Nouadhibou
Mauritanian military leader, Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, officiated at a ceremony to launch the construction of a maritime surveillance dock in Nouadhibou, 470-km north of Nouakchott. Fisheries and Maritime Economy Minister, Sidi Mohamed Ould Sidina, said the facility would facilitate maritime security checks off the Mauritanian coasts. The dock would also be useful in ship servicing and supply. [APA 24/03/07]

IMF Keen To Work With Mauritania's New Government
The IMF is ready to work with post-transition officials in Mauritania to discuss the next steps on the country’s reform agenda. In a statement marking the completion of the first review of the IMF's US$24.4m support programme to Mauritania, the first US$6.6m of which was disbursed to the country in December 2006. The program seeks a reduction in poverty and enhanced growth through sound macro-economic policies and structural reforms in the financial sector. [IMF 01/03/07]

Mauritania's Presidential Election
A seasoned former minister will face a veteran opposition icon in a second round of presidential election in Mauritania on 25/03/07 in the final stage of a handover to civilian rule by a military junta. The deciding presidential run-off in the Saharan state follows an inconclusive first round on March 11 and carries the hopes of a country keen to break with a past of poverty, coups and authoritarian rule. It will seal a promised transfer to civilian democracy by military officers who seized power in a bloodless 2005 coup that toppled President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya.

International observers have hailed this month's first round of elections as the freest ever held in the former French colony, which last year became Africa's newest oil producer. The two contenders who finished top of the March 11 ballot - frontrunner Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi with nearly 25% and his rival Ahmed Ould Daddah with nearly 21% - have tied up electoral alliances ahead of the vote.

Abdallahi, a 68-year-old economist who has served in past governments, is seen as having the support of the outgoing junta, and of many former supporters of the overthrown Taya, who is in exile in Qatar. He also has the public backing of the third- and fourth-placed first round contenders, former central bank governor Zeine Ould Zeidane, and Messaoud Ould Boulkheir, a descendant of freed black slaves.

Daddah, 64, who is also an economist and served as central bank chief in the 1970s, is Mauritania's best known opposition figure and has experienced both exile and imprisonment. [Reuters 22/03/07]

Mauritania Poll - 05/12/06
Results from 3rd Dec second round of voting for parliamentary elections in Mauritania show no party has won an overall majority. A coalition of parties* opposed to the president ousted in last year's coup won 41 of the 95 seats according to the interior minister. Independents who come from the former ruling party have 39 seats.

Country to Boost Salaries & Simply Tax/Customs System
Mauritania is expected to pay workers 50% more next year as part of its 199.675bn ouguiya [$799mn] budget, a government statement said. The military government, which seized power in a bloodless coup on August 3 2005, said that the 7.5% budget increase would seek to restore macro-economic balance and sustainable growth. The budget would simplify Mauritania's tax system, by making customs duties more transparent and by providing clear categories for products. The system, which would strengthen the capacity of the tax administration and ensure "transparent management of oil resources" according to government, was expected to be in place in January. [BIA 04/12/06]

EU Funds Mauritania Road Project
Mauritania and the European Union have signed a Euro66.6 million agreement [over 23 billion ouguiyas] to fund the asphalt pavement of the Ka`di-M`Bout- Selibaby-Gouraye road network. Mauritanian Economic and Development Affairs minister Mohamed Ould Abed, and European mission chief in Mauritania, Jean Eric Paquet, signed the agreement part of the development of road infrastructures. The project will include putting tarmac on the Ka`di-M`Bout and Selibaby-Gouraye [159 km] sections and other construction works on the Selibaby-Gouraye road, including a sill and eight reinforced concrete bridges. The project is expected to last 52 months. [ANGOP 07/09/06]

EU To Clear Wrecks Off Mauritania
The EU is to spend Euro26 million on clearing away shipwrecks off the coast of Mauritania according to the EU's executive European Commission. The wrecks hamper shipping and fishing in the area. [Xinhua 24/08/06]

A Year After The Coup - Mauritania Heads Toward Democracy -06/08/06
Colonel Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya came to power in 1984 after leading a military coup against President Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla. He returned the country to democracy in 1991 and in the following year was elected president as the candidate of the Parti Republicain Démocratique et Social [PRDS]. He was re-elected in 1997 with 90% of the vote, although the five-party Opposition Front coalition boycotted the poll.

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Contacts and Links
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Chambre de Commerce, d'Agriculture et d'Industrie
BP 215
Nouakchott, Mauritania

Nouakchott Port Authority
Port Autonome de Nouakchott (PANPA) also known as Port de l'Amitie
BP 5103
Nouakchott
Tel: + 222 251453 / 251794 / 251676
Fax: 222 251794

SGS Website