Project description

Carbon Limits conducted a study on the decarbonization of Mauritania's oil and gas sector on behalf of the Ministry of Petroleum, Mines, and Energy of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The purpose of the study was to identify the best environmental practices to be implemented from the early stages of development of the sector and relevant measures to develop and ensure the production of "low-carbon" natural gas.

The project team reviewed international experiences and initiatives to reduce, or in some cases eliminate, greenhouse gas emissions using either technologies or operational practices. An overview was provided of decarbonization options for the main sources of methane and carbon dioxide emissions in the oil and gas sector, including a qualitative assessment of abatement costs. The decarbonization options were grouped into three main categories:

• Measures to reduce methane emissions and gas flaring

• Carbon dioxide capture and storage

• Electrification

The identified options were then refined to identify the most relevant options for Mauritania based on the applicability for new installations, applicability for offshore installations, relevance in the national context, and the speed of implementation. Eight options were selected for a more detailed analysis of costs, potential revenues (i.e. from the recovery and sale of previously-emitted natural gas), and emissions reductions associated with each option. The findings served as a basis for a ministerial roadmap for implementing regulations and a series of recommendations aimed at decarbonizing the country's oil and gas sector.