Received on October 16 by Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Mohamed Ould Abdel Vetah, the new Mauritanian Minister of Energy and Petroleum, reaffirmed his commitment to continue his engagement in favor of regional cooperation. His arrival in the government, however, comes at a sensitive time, marked by an electricity crisis and the aftermath of an investigation into the fires at two transformation substations in Nouakchott.
After nearly four years at the helm of the Organization for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS), the outgoing High Commissioner thanked the Senegalese authorities for their support. In his new role, he intends to continue his work in the service of the Senegalese and Mauritanian populations. From the Senegal River to the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project, the two countries share several strategic energy issues.
Appointed on October 10 and officially installed on October 12, replacing Mohamed Ould Khaled, Mohamed Ould Abdel Vetah returns to a sector he is familiar with: he had previously held the portfolio of Petroleum, Energy, and Mines from August 2016 to August 2020.
This appointment comes against the backdrop of restructuring the electricity sector. In August, the fires at the substations in Nouakchott-North and Nouakchott-West caused power outages and led the authorities to establish an independent inquiry commission, chaired by former minister Ousmane Mamoudou Kane. This commission was tasked with determining the causes of the disasters, establishing any responsibilities, and proposing measures to prevent further incidents.
The final report, submitted to the government on October 6 and presented to President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani on October 8, led to instructions for the full implementation of the recommendations. These include administrative measures based on the identified responsibilities, as well as the necessary legal procedures regarding violations of laws and regulations. The authorities also requested the rehabilitation of damaged facilities and the development of an organization and development plan for the Mauritanian Electricity Company (SOMELEC).
For the new minister, the challenge is twofold: to continue regional energy partnerships and improve the reliability of the national electricity service. The continuity claimed in Dakar must therefore be accompanied, in Nouakchott, by concrete responses to the dysfunctions revealed by this crisis.
