Global Partners Back US$275 Million Rail Modernisation to Power Mauritania’s Growth
The European Investment Bank (EIB Global) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed a landmark US$275 million financing package to modernise Mauritania’s main railway corridor, strengthening the country’s competitiveness and supporting regional integration.
Announced on the sidelines of the 2025 Africa Investment Forum, the investment combines a US$150 million loan from the African Development Bank and US$125 million from EIB Global, guaranteed by the European Union. The package, provided directly to the Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière (SNIM), reinforces the partners’ commitment to expanding private sector-led, commercially viable infrastructure across Africa.
The funds will support extensive rehabilitation of the Zouerate–Nouadhibou railway, the backbone of Mauritania’s export economy. The project also includes constructing 42 kilometres of new track to connect emerging mining areas at El Aouj and Atomai, and acquiring modern locomotives, wagons, and maintenance equipment. The upgraded line is expected to improve safety, reduce fuel consumption, and increase transport capacity.
Mohamed Vall Mohamed Telmidy, CEO of SNIM, said the improvement of the logistics chain represents “an important pillar” of the company’s strategic programme. “We are particularly grateful to our partners EIB Global and AfDB for their unwavering support,” he said.
African Development Bank Group President Sidi Ould Tah described the financing as a “milestone” for Mauritania. “Modernising this railway will unlock new opportunities for industry, strengthen regional trade, and accelerate the country’s transition toward more sustainable and competitive growth,” he said.
EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle highlighted the project’s alignment with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy. “This is a strong example of how the EU and EIB, working with African partners, deliver transformative infrastructure that boosts exports and supports economic development,” he said.
Solomon Quaynor, AfDB Vice-President for Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialisation, said the initiative will enhance Mauritania’s competitiveness while promoting low-carbon, resilient infrastructure.
EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, noted that the investment deepens the EU–Mauritania partnership. “By connecting the mining region with global markets, this project illustrates what Global Gateway delivers: local growth, new jobs, and sustainable development,” he said.
Beyond boosting SNIM’s operational efficiency, the upgraded corridor is expected to create employment, strengthen regional connectivity, and improve resilience to climate risks. It also supports Mauritania’s ambitions to expand production, increase exports, and enhance sustainability across its mining and transport sectors.
The operation stands as a flagship investment under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, which aims to mobilise €300 billion in sustainable infrastructure projects by 2027.
