The European Investment Bank (EIB Global) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have announced a joint investment of $275 million to renovate and expand the railway line connecting the iron mines of Zouerate with the Atlantic port of Nouadhibou, the hub of Mauritanian exports. The agreement, signed during the Africa Investment Forum 2025, combines a contribution of £150 million from the AfDB and £125 million from EIB Global, the latter backed by European Union guarantees. Both funds will be granted directly to the state-owned company SNIM through loans to the private sector.

The project will finance the rehabilitation of the existing railway line, the construction of an additional 42 kilometres to the future El Aouj and Atomai deposits, and the incorporation of more efficient locomotives, wagons and maintenance equipment. The aim is to increase transport capacity, reduce fuel consumption and improve operational safety on a route that transports the country’s main export resource.

The operation is part of the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, which promotes investment in sustainable infrastructure and responsible supply chains. It also contributes to Mauritania’s industrial priorities by strengthening its competitiveness in the international iron market and improving its integration into global trade flows. The project also aims to generate employment, strengthen regional connectivity and increase the corridor’s resilience to climate risks.

With this modernisation, Mauritania plans to consolidate its position as a key player in the global raw materials chain, relying on a more efficient and safer railway infrastructure that is aligned with environmental and social sustainability standards.

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