Hommam Al Nassim 
The Mauritanian government and the conglomerate “Kokaz” and “TAQA Arabia” signed on Monday in Nouakchott a historic investment agreement to exploit gas reserves in the Banda and Taft fields in the Mauritanian coastal basin.
The agreement was signed on behalf of Mauritanian by Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Minerals Nani Ould Achrouga and on behalf of the consortium of companies “KOKAZ” and “TAQA Arabia”, the head of “Kokaz” Khaled Abou Bakr.
According to a briefing by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, the “Panda” and”TFT” fields have total reserves of 2.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
The gas extracted from the fields is expected to bring about a major shift in electricity production, as it will enable the 180 MW dual power plant to be supplied with gas.
“The signing of this agreement represents an important step in the new dynamic of valorizing Mauritania’s national gas resources, strengthening the energy sector and stimulating investments in exploration and production in the coastal basin,” Ould Achrouga said.
“The local content component of the project is strongly present, especially in the field of operation, transfer of expertise, opportunities for the acquisition and exchange of equipment, and the conclusion of service and supply contracts,” he added.
For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kokaz, Mohammed Khalid Abu Bakr, said that he is “proud to enter into the development of this promising economic project due to the great potential it provides in the field of electricity production for the local market and industrial poles in the country.”
The Banda gas field, located in Mauritanian waters 60 kilometers southwest of Nouakchott, was discovered in 2003 by oil company Woodside.
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