A generator from Senegal has reached Mauritania to help restore electricity in Nouakchott after two fires damaged key substations, leaving parts of the capital without power. The move aims to accelerate recovery and stabilize the grid.
A generator unit sourced from Senegal arrived in Rosso on Sunday evening and is now being transported to Nouakchott, as Mauritanian authorities intensify efforts to restore electricity following two separate fires that severely damaged major substations in the capital. The generator, accompanied by technical teams and a gendarmerie escort, is expected to reinforce the city's power supply as repairs continue.
The deployment comes after two incidents in quick succession: first, a fire at the eastern substation in northern Nouakchott, followed by another blaze at a 33/15 kV substation in the west of the city. These events triggered widespread outages, disrupting daily life and essential services across multiple districts.
Emergency Measures to Stabilize the Grid
The generator will be installed at one of the affected substations to help bridge the supply gap while permanent repairs are underway. According to the Mauritanian electricity company, SOMELEC, technical teams have already restored the Nouakchott-Idini line, which is critical for supplying potable water, and have rerouted power to several areas using alternative lines. SOMELEC reports that large parts of western Nouakchott began regaining electricity on Sunday evening, with further restoration dependent on available grid capacity and ongoing technical work.
Regional Coordination and Next Steps
The cross-border transfer of the generator highlights regional cooperation between Mauritania and Senegal in response to infrastructure emergencies. The incident underscores the vulnerability of Nouakchott's power infrastructure and the importance of contingency planning. For additional context on the initial substation fire and the immediate response, see this recent report on Mauritania's urgent power restoration efforts. Authorities are prioritizing repairs to damaged distribution cells and circuit breakers, with the goal of restoring full service to all affected neighborhoods in the coming days.
