A report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) says that the transition to solar energy energy sources can help to lower energy costs and bring more resilience to the traditional fishing value chain of Mauritania.
In addition to other forms of decentralized renewable energy (DRE), solar energy is well positioned to make the artisan fisherman sector of Mauritania more resilient and more economically viable, according to a report of the International Office for Renewable Energy (Irena).
The fishing sector of Mauritania is an important pillar within the national economy, which represents 2.8% of GDP in 2023. The country is in second place among the largest producers of Africa and exporters of fish products, accounting for more than 10% of annual exports.
The traditional fishing sector of the country accounts for around 40% of the annual catch in the fishing industry of Mauritania, which greatly contributes to both creating jobs and food security. To date, the sector is highly dependent on fossil fuels for electricity activities and high energy costs, which cover up to 40% of all operating costs, in addition to an unreliable energy supply that forms challenges in the sector’s value chain.
The study by Irena says that the use of Mauritania’s largely untouched solar and wind potential and transition to Dre could possibly reduce operational costs and carbon emissions, while the resources of existence and resilience of sector players are improved.
The research represents the use of custom-made DRE solutions, including a grid-solne-zonne energy for large-scale fish factories in addition to ice factories with solar energy with solar energy cooling units. Raster-connected solar sun was analyzed for an internal return (IRR) of 12%, higher than the prevailing interest in Mauritania of 7.7%, while the Solar Energy ice factories had an IRR of 24%.
For small and medium -sized companies, the report recommends using Solar energy-driven batteries for fishermen and accessories, analyzed for afterwards, analyzed on an IRR of 14%, in addition to solar energy cooling units for solar energy fishmen and cold rooms with solar energy, which Irrs of 11%and 15%have found.
The assessment of Irena calculated the total investment required for $ 163.12 million, of which 58% would go to the retrospect of traditional fishing boats with batteries engines. The use of individual solar energy freezers would require $ 6.78 million, Irena adds, while PV storage on solar energy would require $ 48.2 million.
In research into the most important stakeholders in the industry, Irena found up to 84% of large-scale consumers, 78% of fishermen and 46% of fishing traders were already aware of solar and wind energy. All large -scale consumers investigated, in addition to 89% of fishmongers and 70% of fishermen, indicated the willingness to integrate their activities. Almost half (44%) of the fishermen mentioned cost savings as the most important motivator to adopt renewable energy.
Important obstacles for solar and wind adoptation in Mauritania are mentioned as limited market availability, high initial investment costs, lack of access to financing and insufficient skills for maintenance and maintenance. Irena says that the successful implementation of these energy solutions would require a joint effort from the government, in addition to the support of technical and financial partners, to increase the awareness of the economic, social and ecological benefits and to promote the development of a local entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The report offers a series of recommendations, including the development of a national strategy for Dre and the Removal of import duties on all solar equipment, materials and maintenance inputs to improve the availability of the market and to reduce the investment costs in advance.
It also calls for setting up an extensive training program to support the Dre development in Mauritania, the implementation of a National Certification System for DRE equipment and installations, aND for the increased participation of the private sector to the renewable energy sector in Mauritania to encourage.
The cumulative solar capacity of Mauritania was 157 MW at the end of last year, an increase of 123 MW at the end of the year before, according to figures from Irena.
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