GCA Supports Climate-Resilient Expansion of Mauritania’s Mining Logistics with African Development Bank Partnership
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otterdam, the Netherlands, 10th January 2025 – The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB), is advancing climate resilience in Mauritania through the African Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) by providing critical technical assistance for the Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière (SNIM) in the context of a $467 million logistics capacity expansion program.
The project, supported by a $150 million loan from the African Development Bank, aims to double the capacity of Mauritania’s (704-kilometer) railway transporting iron ore from the Zouérat mines to the Port of Nouadhibou. This railway also plays a vital role in connecting private passengers, underlining its significance in Mauritania’s economic framework.
GCA’s role includes a comprehensive climate risk assessment to safeguard SNIM’s overall operations and infrastructure against climate hazards, including extreme heat and sand accumulation on railways, as well as sea-level rise threatening port facilities. The analysis will support the development of prioritized options to mitigate these risks through operations and maintenance strategies, enhanced emergency response protocols, and the implementation of worker safety measures to address heat-related health concerns.
Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen, President of GCA, emphasized:
“This landmark partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration to secure a sustainable and resilient future for Mauritania and beyond. By embedding climate adaptation into critical infrastructure projects, we are not only safeguarding economic growth but also ensuring the well-being of communities and the protection of vital ecosystems. This initiative reflects a broader vision of progress that prioritizes resilience, sustainability, and inclusivity at its core.”
GCA’s technical support integrates climate-resilient infrastructure design into SNIM’s logistics expansion and overall operations. This includes stakeholder workshops, masterclasses on climate-resilient Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and tailored occupational health and safety guidelines to mitigate climate-induced risks for workers.
The logistics program will allow to increase Mauritanian’s production of iron ore to 40 million tonnes per annum by 2030 and supports SNIM’s decarbonization goals with the inclusion of a 12 MW solar photovoltaic plant. The program will create 150 skilled jobs in railway and rolling stock operations, with an additional 3,000 indirect jobs in mining and processing. It also addresses broader challenges, ensuring the uninterrupted distribution of essential resources such as food, water, and fuel.
Solomon Quaynor, Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialization at AfDB, remarked: “This program is a key precursor for SNIM’s further growth as high-quality iron ore producer and will facilitate their forward integration. It represents a significant step forward for Mauritania’s mining sector and will allow for the creation of a real regional industrial hub over the medium term. The project is also poised to deliver significant social and economic benefits, including empowering communities creating jobs with a focus on youth and women, and creating new regional partnerships.”
SNIM, Mauritania’s largest company and one of Africa’s top iron ore producers, employs over 6,750 individuals. The expansion project positions SNIM as a key player in promoting intra-African trade and regional industrial partnerships.
Mohamed Vall Mohamed Telmidy, CEO of SNIM, added:
“This logistics expansion project is very important for SNIM. It will enable us to bring our planned production projects one step closer towards execution phase.”
Notes to Editors
About the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP)
The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) is a joint initiative by the African Development Bank and the Global Center on Adaptation, aimed at mobilizing $25 billion over five years to scale up climate adaptation in Africa. Since its launch, the AAAP has integrated climate adaptation measures into over $13 billion in investments, helping to build climate resilience for millions across the continent.
About the Global Center on Adaptation
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that promotes adaptation to the impacts of climate change. It works to climate-proof development by instigating policy reforms and influencing investments made by international financial institutions and the private sector. The goal is to bring climate adaptation to the forefront of the global fight against climate change and ensure that it remains prominent.
Founded in 2018, GCA embodies innovation in its approach to climate adaptation as well as in its physical presence. It operates from the largest floating office in the world, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Beijing, China. The Center will open a new office in Nairobi, Kenya in 2025.
