SOGECO
ROUTE DE L’AEROPORT
1765 rue 22-002
Commune du Ksar/B.P. 351
Nouakchott
Mauritania Tel: (+222) 5254652 Fax: (+222) 5253903 E-Mail:m.mboyrick@sogeco-sa.mr
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.
Draft at Harbour
Mouth
11m from channel to port
Number of Deepwater Quays
Port of Friendship: 1
Currents
There is almost a permanent north-south current with an average
strength of 0.5 knots
Tides
High water average level: 1.63m Low water average level: 0.25m
Tidal range: 1.44m
Lighthouse
This lighthouse is located at the extreme southwestern point
of the protective jetty in order to signal the entrance of the
basin during the night.
Length of Quay
Port of Friendship: 585m
Pilots
Inwards/Outwards between 0700 and 2200 (2400
possible if a pilot is available). It is possible to obtain
clearence from the pilot and port authority to depart the port
ouside of these hours.
Berths
5 cargo berths up to 180 meters long
Cranes
2 cranes with 10 tonne capacity
Wharf Quai:
3 fixed jib-cranes - 8T, 15T and 30T
Air Connections
Nouakchott has an international airport on
the city outskirts in the Ksar district, only 3km from the
center Position 18º06´00"N, 015º57´00"W
Open Areas
- Wharf Quai: Usable surface of 21,244 m2 with a storage
limit of 5 tonnes per m2
-
Port of Friendship: Tarmac surface
of 45,682
m2 and a container park of 22,000m2
Warehousing/Storage
- Wharf Quai: Usable surface of 1.200 m2, with a storage
limit of 3 tonnes per m2
-
Port of Friendship: Overall surface
of 7,908m2 with a storage limit of 3 tonnes per m2
Nouadhibou
Port Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nouadhibou is the second largest city in Mauritania
and serves as the country's commercial center. It is situated on a 40-mile
peninsula or headland called Ras Nouadhibou, Cap Blanc, or Cabo Blanco, of
which the western side, with the city of Lagouira, is part of Western Sahara.
Nouadhibou is less than a mile from the border.
The city is divided into four
major areas: the city centre, including the airport, Numerowatt to the north,
the main residential area, Cansado to the
south, a dormitory town for Port Minéralier, in the far south, from
which iron ore mined in Zouerat is exported.
Transport
News
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre Election Clashes In Nouakchott - 29/05/09
Police and hundreds of protesters opposed to next week's presidential election
clashed in Nouakchott yesterday. Officers used tear gas and batons to break
up the demonstration, and protesters responded by fighting with the officers
which lasted more than an hour.
The National Front of the Defense of Democracy (FNDD) and the Assembly of Democratic
Forces (RFD) which make up the opposition also staged a demonstration in Nouakchott
on Monday.
The presidential election is due to be held 06/06/09 with the run up expected
to be highly tense!
China Ups Nouakchott Stakes - 16/03/09
China is to continue helping with the development of Mauritania’s
Nouakchott Port in spite, or, more likely, because of the military
coup that took place
last August and resulted in financial sources from other donors being pulled.
While the African Union, EU and USA all imposed sanctions on the country,
the Chinese government has announced US$282M of new investment. Few
details have
been released, but the port investment is almost certainly being made in
exchange for upstream oil and gas concessions in the country....
[WCN 16/03/09]
Spain To Finance The Extension Of Nouadhibou Port - 05/02/09
The Mauritanian Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, Sidi Ould Tah,
and the Spanish
Ambassador in Nouakchott, Aljendro Polanca Mata have signed a loan agreement
on 04/02/09 for €18-
million to finance the Nouadhibou port extension project [465 km north of
Nouakchott]. [PANA 05/02/09]
China To Invest US$282 Million In Nouakchott Port Expansion
- 14/01/09
China is to invest US$282 million to expand Nouakchott port in an agreement
signed by the two countries on 12/01/09. The deal is expected to lead to
a threefold
increase in the port's capacity by constructing new quays. The quay is to be
extended by > 900m [currently 585m]. The deep-water 'Port of Friendship',
constructed by the Chinese in 1979, currently handles 500,000 tons of cargo a
year. China is boosting its development assistance to Mauritania at a time when
it is looking for new sources of oil. Mauritania discovered oil in 2006 and now
produces about 75,000 barrels of oil a day with proven crude reserves of one-billion
barrels. Chinese contractors have nearly US$700 million worth of projects in
Mauritania
including water supplies, telecommunications, agriculture, and construction. Note:
This deal comes after Western and African governments threatened sanctions against
Mauritania following a military coup in August 2008. The African Union said it
would make good that threat if "constitutional order" isn't restored
by 05/02/09.
Nouakchott Gains ISPS - December 2008
Nouakchott port has been awarded with official confirmation of compliance for
ISPS certification.
What is the ISPS Code?
The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code [ISPS Code] is a comprehensive
set of measures to
enhance the security of ships and port facilities, developed in response
to the perceived threats to ships and
port facilities in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in the United States. Click
here for more information.
Mauritanian Fish Export Ban - 06/11/08
Please note that the Mauritanian fisheries minister has imposed an export ban
on some species of fish namely sea bream, thiof and merou. These account
for around 80% of fish exported from Mauritania by local operators [around
70,000 tonnes].
The ban was imposed on Monday [03/11/08].
The ban does not affect ships operating offshore under a deal with the European
Union which nets the Mauritanian government 86 million euros [US$110 million]
a year.
But with the vast majority of fish landed in Mauritania heading for export
many fish factories in Nouakchott have been forced to shut down this week.
France's Total Signs Roads Deal With Mauritania's Junta
- 25/10/08
French oil giant Total has agreed a deal with Mauritania's military junta to
enlarge highways to allow access
to oil fields in the northeast of the country. The agreement signed on 23/10/08
mainly concerns the widening
and strengthening of a road in the Adrar region, in order to take Total's heavy
drilling machinery. Total has an
ongoing oil exploration programme in the adjoining Taoudenni basin. [AFP 25/10/08]
China And EU To Finance The Upgrading Of Mauritanian
Ports / DP World Interested In Developing
Mauritania's Nouakchott Port- 12/05/08
Mauritania’s port infrastructure is to be upgraded with major
projects at the capital Nouakchott and the
northern port of Nouadhibou. Transport Minister Ahmed Ould Mohameden
explained that Mauritania has
signed an agreement with China for a US$300m project to extend the “Friendship
Port”, built by the Chinese
between 1979 and 1984, with a new 450m pier.
The Chinese have agreed to extend the port facilities because Nouakchott,
now home to nearly one third of
just under 3 million Mauritanians, is thriving. The country is benefitting
from investment in its fledgling
offshore industry alongside investment in its two other pillars of
export: iron ore and other minerals, as well
as the fishing industry.
Following a visit in April of Dubai World’s chairman
Sultan bin Sulayem, Mr Mohameden is negotiating with
UAE and other Gulf interests on another project that could extend the
new planned pier by another 450m.
The project will include a new container terminal, with refrigerating
facilities, and a designated free zone to
attract further investment to the commercial port. In conjunction,
the government wants to transform the
artisanal fishing port into a modern fishing port big enough to handle
reefer hips for the export of frozen fish.
The government also has plans for processing plants to be established
around the port as part of a strategy
to increase substantially its fish-processing capacity and to increase
value-added fish exports.
A similar plan is about to be implemented for the northern
commercial and fishing port of Nouadhibou,
formerly St Etienne, on Cape Blanc, with plans to extend and build
new quays and piers for the commercial
and fishing ports here, said Mr Mohameden. Tenders will soon be issued
for the quay extensions, financed
with European Union development money, which will include the deepening
of the draught to 8m for the
commercial port and 6m for the fishing port, as well as land reclamation.
Nouadhibou port has the advantage over Nouakchott of being a natural
shelter, but neglect means that
numerous shipwrecks of former Soviet Union and Eastern Block trawlers
and factory ships have made the
port unsightly and dangerous in places.
It is hoped that the EU would assist in funding to clear
these wrecks and finance a feasibility study into the
further development of the iron ore port, just south of Nouadhibou.
The Chinese will start their work before
the end of the year and the whole project, including the 450m new
pier, which should be finished within three
years. [LL 12/05/08]
AGOA Status: Mauritania Eligible For Duty-Free
Exporting - April 2008
Mauritania is now eligible to take advantage of duty-free exporting
to the US. Mauritania’s AGOA status was
restored in mid-2007 following democratic elections, a year and a half
after the bloodless overthrow of the
previous government. The desert country is rich in resources, such
as oil and iron ore, and last year began
shipping petroleum products to the US. A West Africa Trade Hub workshop,
attended by 55 participants,
focused on other export sectors, particularly fish and seafood. Several
companies are already processing
fish and seafood there, but significant investment is still needed
in the cold chain for packing frozen products
for export.
Likewise, the country could also export gum Arabic, home furnishings
and handwoven cloth under AGOA,
but must first overcome shortcomings in communications and transport
infrastructure. The Trade Hub is
already working with Mauritanian fish exporters and visited a potential
new client, Mauritanienne de Tissage,
a cooperative which specializes in high-end rugs made of camel wool.
[This article originally appeared in the
WATH Factor, a monthly newsletter published by the West Africa Trade
Hub, a USAID-funded project
promoting export development and trade facilitation. www.watradehub.com]
Mauritania Looks To DC World To Enhance Customs - 17/03/08
On 16/03/08 a delegation from Mauritania, led by Mohammed Abdullah
Walad Yaha, Minister of Investment, visited
the Dubai Customs World headquarters and held talks with Hamad Mohammed
Fadhel Al Mazrooei, CEO, DC
World. During the meeting, the minister expressed Mauritania’s
keenness to benefit from the UAE’s outstanding
experience in the area of advanced customs solutions applied by DC
World. DC World is well-positioned to provide
training and apply information systems and technologies towards simplifying
customs procedures. The company
stressed its readiness to work with Mauritania. [BI 17/030/8]
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- 24/09/07
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%-
19/09/07
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]
Sudan, China To Build $630 Million Mauritania
Railway - 05/08/07
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 -
06/08/07
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-
18/08/07
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 -
19/04/07
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.
[BBC 19/04/07]
Mauritania Presidential Elections-
15/04/07
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-
11/04/07
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- 01/04/07
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- 24/03/07
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]
Contacts
and Links
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
