The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) are putting $275 million into upgrading Mauritania’s critical railway line that links iron ore mines in Zouerate to the Atlantic port of Nouadhibou, EIB announced. The two banks signed the deal on the sidelines of the Africa Investment Forum 2025, with AfDB contributing $150 million and EIB Global adding $125 million backed by European Union guarantees. The money will go directly to Mauritania’s state mining company SNIM through private sector loans.
Mauritania depends heavily on this railway to move iron ore—the backbone of its export economy. The upgrade will fix aging tracks, add 42 kilometers of new rail connecting future mining sites at El Aouj and Atomai, and bring in modern locomotives and wagons. SNIM, the country’s biggest employer, runs the line and sees the project as central to hitting production targets while cutting fuel use and boosting safety.
Mohamed Vall Mohamed Telmidy, SNIM’s CEO, said improving the logistics chain fits squarely into the company’s strategic plans. “We are particularly grateful to our partners EIB Global and AfDB for their unwavering support,” he noted. African Development Bank President Sidi Ould Tah called the financing a milestone that shows the bank’s push to ramp up private sector investment in key industries. He said modernizing the railway will open doors for trade and help Mauritania shift toward more competitive, sustainable growth.
Ambroise Fayolle, EIB Vice-President, pointed to the project as proof that the EU and its partners can deliver on the Global Gateway strategy just days after the AU-EU Summit wrapped up in Luanda. EU Commissioner Jozef Síkela described Mauritania as the first country he visited in his role and emphasized the mutual benefits of the partnership.
“By connecting the mining region with global markets, this project illustrates what Global Gateway delivers: local growth, new jobs, and sustainable development,” Síkela said.
Beyond moving ore, the railway upgrade is expected to create jobs, strengthen regional links, and build resilience against climate risks. Solomon Quaynor, AfDB’s Vice-President for Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialization, highlighted the project’s role in building low-carbon infrastructure and setting the stage for greener, more inclusive growth across Mauritania. The investment aligns with Global Gateway goals of promoting sustainable infrastructure and responsible supply chains for strategic materials.
