Summary:

On 18 March 2026, the Mauritanian government announced the shortlist of companies preselected to conduct the feasibility study for a major fertilizer and petrochemical complex in the south of the country, including KBR and Wood Mackenzie in consortium with the local firm Meen & Meen.  

KBR is an international engineering and construction company with experience in large-scale industrial and energy projects, while Wood Mackenzie provides research and analysis across petrochemical and energy value chains. 

The consortium aims to leverage Mauritania’s gas reserves and phosphate deposits in Bofal-Louboira to develop an integrated industrial hub. The project comes at a time of global fertilizer supply disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Persian Gulf, which previously supplied over 30% of key fertilizer types. 

Outlook: 

Mauritania’s focus on bringing in international expertise highlights the country’s intent to develop its fertilizer and petrochemical sector and attract foreign participation in industrial projects. The combination of local resources with external technical and analytical support could strengthen project planning and execution.  

The ongoing disruptions in global fertilizer supply chains may also increase the strategic importance of the project for regional agricultural markets. The progress of feasibility studies and subsequent project development will be closely monitored by investors and regional stakeholders, as it could influence industrial investment flows and supply chain planning across North and West Africa. 

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