Riyadh-based ACWA Power (water desalination company) has signed a Public-Private Partnership agreement and Power Purchase Agreement for the development, financing, construction, and operation of the N'diago 230 MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power plant in Mauritania, marking the country's entry into large-scale private gas-fired power generation.

Agreements Signed in Nouakchott With Government Officials Present

The agreements were signed in Nouakchott in the presence of senior officials of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and ACWA's Chairman Mohammad Abunayyan.

The signing took place on July 1, 2026, and represents the official launch of what the company describes as Mauritania's first major gas-fired Independent Power Project.

The N'diago plant will be located in Nouakchott and will deliver 230 MW of baseload capacity using high-efficiency combined cycle gas turbine technology. The project will integrate Mauritania's domestic natural gas resources into the national grid, with the company stating that the technology will reduce the fuel intensity of generation compared with conventional thermal plants.

A Structural Shift for Mauritania's Power Sector

ACWA described the signing as a defining moment for Mauritania's power sector, with the project designed to pave the way for broader private sector participation in the country's electricity industry. The structure of the agreement has been framed as a bankable model intended to attract further private investment into Mauritanian energy infrastructure.

The plant is intended to support Mauritania's growing electricity demand, contribute to grid stability, and underpin what the company characterizes as the country's long-term energy security and transition objectives.

By drawing on domestic natural gas resources, the project is positioned as a means of reducing dependence on imported fuels while improving the reliability of electricity supply.

Hashim Ghabashi, President of the Africa Region at ACWA, said the signing was the product of years of close collaboration with the Mauritanian government. "Unlocking domestic gas to deliver reliable, affordable electricity, and putting 230 MW of high-efficiency CCGT capacity to productive use," Ghabashi said, adding that the project "not only strengthens the country's platform for industrial growth and energy security but also opens the door for further private investment, giving Acwa a deeper foothold in West Africa."

West Africa Expansion Adds to ACWA's Continental Footprint

The N'diago project expands ACWA Power's presence on the African continent, where the company says it is delivering integrated power, water, and renewable solutions across what it describes as high-growth markets.

The company did not specify which other African countries are currently part of its active portfolio, but it indicated the project reinforces its commitment to regions spanning the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.

ACWA currently operates across 16 countries and manages a portfolio of 111 assets that are either in operation, advanced development, or under construction. The total value of that portfolio is reported at USD 125 billion.

The company states it has the capacity to generate 98 GW of power in aggregate, of which 52.3 GW comes from renewable sources. Its water operations cover 9.7 million cubic meters per day of desalinated water.

CCGT Technology and the Role of Domestic Gas

The combined-cycle gas turbine format chosen for the N'diago plant is a technology that recovers waste heat from gas turbines to generate additional electricity through a steam cycle, improving overall efficiency relative to simple-cycle gas plants. ACWA stated that the plant will integrate Mauritania's domestic natural gas resources, though no further details about gas supply arrangements or the specific source fields were provided in the company's announcement.

The baseload nature of the plant is intended to provide consistent, around-the-clock power supply, which ACWA identified as a key requirement for supporting industrial growth and broader economic development in Mauritania. The company described the project as aligned with both energy security and energy transition objectives, framing high-efficiency gas-fired generation as a component of the country's longer-term power sector strategy.

ACWA's Position in Global Energy and Water Markets

ACWA Power describes itself as the world's largest private water desalination company, a leader in the energy transition, and a first mover into green hydrogen at scale.

The company is headquartered in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and has been building out its international project base across emerging and high-growth markets.

The N'diago project follows the company's stated model of integrated delivery across power and water infrastructure. Ghabashi characterized the project as an example of "disciplined, integrated delivery," consistent with what ACWA describes as its broader commercial approach to infrastructure development in markets where energy access and reliability remain key economic constraints.

No timeline for construction completion or commercial operation was specified in the company's announcement of the signed agreements.

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