The European Investment Bank (EIB) has launched an evaluation for a €113 million loan to support a major railway expansion project in Mauritania.
The initiative aims to enhance iron ore exports by improving the rail link between the mining town of Zouérat and the port city of Nouadhibou. The total cost of the project is estimated at €461 million and includes the purchase of new locomotives and freight wagons, as well as infrastructure upgrades.
The project, led by state-owned mining company SNIM, involves laying additional tracks, extending the rail network to new mining areas and acquiring maintenance equipment to ensure operational reliability.
The objective is to strengthen the country’s logistics network, prevent the diversion of freight transport to roads and maintain the efficiency of bulk mineral exports by rail.
The improved railway system will help reinforce the country’s position in the global raw materials market while generating employment and enhancing transport resilience in the region.