Algiers, March 02 (QNA) - HE President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Cheikh Mohamed El Ghazouani emphasized that there are great opportunities to enhance cooperation between the State of Qatar and Mauritania in the gas and renewable energies sector.
In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the sidelines of the 7th Summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, HE the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania voiced his hope to strengthen relations between the State of Qatar and Mauritania in various fields, especially in the energy sector.
His Excellency pointed out that there is a partnership between QatarEnergy and the Mauritanian Hydrocarbons Company in the field of exploration. He added that QatarEnergy was present at Block C10, located in the Mauritanian coastal basin in partnership with Shell and the Mauritanian Hydrocarbons Company. Last September the group drilled the Panna Cotta exploration well. Given the lack of discovery of fuel in the well, the group decided to abandon the section, but the opportunities available for cooperation in the fields of gas and renewable energies are great, and we will continue to study these opportunities with the State of Qatar.
Regarding the objectives of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, His Excellency said that the forum, whose countries together possess 72 percent of the world's total gas reserves, aims to promote gas as a basic fuel and part of the solution to the problem of the energy transition, while emphasizing the right of producing countries to exercise their sovereignty in exploiting their resources. He pointed out that the forum has sought, since its establishment in 2001, to create an effective framework for discussing and making strategic decisions that guarantee member states their sovereign right to exploit gas resources and contribute to enabling gas to play its pivotal role in the global energy sector as a low-carbon fuel.
HE President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Mohamed El Ghazouani pointed out that the repeated recommendations and declared positions of the forum in various international forums enabled the voice of member states to be heard and international recognition of the necessity of benefiting from the positive advantages of gas in light of the challenge of the energy transition.
Regarding the date of Mauritania's permanent joining of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, His Excellency said that Mauritania joined the forum as an observer member in October 2023; a step that Mauritania took in preparation for the start of the actual export of liquefied gas from the "Great Turtle Ahmeem Field," by the end of 2024. Currently, Mauritania relies, in its gas-related policies, on an integrated energy strategy that aims to give the country a significant position on the map of countries producing and exporting low-carbon energy and minerals.
His Excellency added that Mauritania's vision, in its first phase, aims to exploit gas resources to produce low-carbon and reliable energy that guarantees comprehensive access to energy for all citizens and contributes to accelerating the pace of growth.
HE President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Cheikh Mohamed El Ghazouani stressed the significance of the pivotal role that gas must play in achieving the energy transition in a gradual, orderly, and fair manner. He indicated that Mauritania would work within the framework of the forum to achieve this common vision, whether as an observer member or when the conditions are met for its transition to permanent membership.
Responding to a question about the biggest challenges facing the gas industry in the world, HE President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Cheikh Mohamed El Ghazouani, stressed that the accelerating pace of transformation in the field of energy and the growing awareness of the problems of climate change had a substantial impact on the gas industry in the world in general and on exploration operations in particular, as these factors forced countries to adopt new models. HE the President of Mauritania added that obstacles to accessing affordable financing remain one of the most important challenges facing some gas-producing countries, as they limit the attractiveness and competitiveness of investment in the gas field. His Excellency pointed out that the resources currently directed to developing clean energies will not allow the production of sufficient energy to meet the growing global demand, indicating that there will remain a great need for huge investments in gas industry, to fill the growing shortage with increasing global growth. Mauritania are working to overcome these difficulties to accelerate the exploitation of gas resources and integrate the energy sector into the national economy, he said. With regard to energy supply and security, the variables that significantly affect the gas industry, and the measures that can be taken to face the challenges to the gas industry, His Excellency said that the fluctuation in the global energy market and tensions in energy production areas pose a major threat to energy security in various countries, as supply chains are affected and costs rise. Regional and global cooperation is considered essential to reduce the impact of external factors and to find sustainable solutions to secure supply chains, he stressed. His Excellency added that Mauritania is working, through international organizations and economic partners, to create sustainable frameworks to address these challenges through strategic partnerships in the fields of low-carbon energy production and export. On Mauritania's key projects to strengthen its position in the gas industry, His Excellency said that besides the 50 trillion cubic feet of low carbon, high quality gas resources in Turtle and BirAllah gas fields, Mauritania enjoys significant resources of renewable energy, such as wind energy and solar power, which range between 2000 to 2300 kwh-meter annually, in addition to the country's proximity to international markets, which represents a contributing factor in supplying energy to Europe. In addition, green hydrogen is considered a promising field for Mauritania due to its significant potential, His Excellency said pointing that it is one of the few countries that enjoys many complementary advantages at the same time and has important capabilities of solar and wind energy. It also has water and vast areas with low population density, he explained. His Excellency indicated that Mauritania has signed four memorandums pertaining to green hydrogen projects with a total capacity of up to 85 gigawatts, adding that many companies are willing to enter this field, which demonstrates investors' confidence in the investment climate in the country and the quality of its capabilities. He stressed that Mauritania is currently working on preparing a law on green hydrogen that will be presented to Parliament in its next session. At the conclusion of his interview with QNA, HE President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Cheikh Mohamed El Ghazouani, stressed that his country is making great efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, establish a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and accelerate the introduction of humanitarian aid. The Palestinian Cause is an issue of the oppression of a people and sanctities of a nation, His Excellency said stressing that supporting the Palestinian people is a sacred issue in the conscience of Mauritanians. His Excellency said that Mauritania, from the first moment in various regional and international forums, has condemned the systematic genocide and crimes against humanity inflicted on the Palestinian people in Gaza, adding that it is also working with the brothers in the Arab League and the African Union and with various partners to get the international community to pressure for a ceasefire and bringing in humanitarian aid and for implementing the two-state solution in a way that guarantees the Palestinian people the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative. Mauritania will continue to make efforts in this regard in order to achieve justice, realizing that no one in this region would enjoy lasting security or peace except to the extent that others enjoy it, His Excellency said. (QNA)