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MINING
A rail link connects the mining town of Zouîrât with the port of Nouadhibou, the only deepwater roadstead on the Saharan coastline, accommodating ships of up to 150,000 tons. Iron exploitation was organized and begun in 1963 by Miferma (of which 56 percent of the financing was by French groups and the remainder by British, Italian, and West German groups and the Mauritanian government). The company was nationalized in 1974 and renamed Cominor (Complexe Minier du Nord).  Iron ore deposits of Mount Ijill have nearly been exhausted, and exploitation of reserves at Guelbs began in 1984. Iron exports fell from a peak of 12 million tons in 1974 to an annual average of nine million tons in the 1980s. The copper deposits of Akjoujt are extensive, with a copper content of more than 2 percent. Exploitation was begun in 1969 by Somima (Société Minière de Mauritanie), of which 54 percent of the shares were held by British and U.S. interests, 25 percent by the Mauritanian government, and the remainder by French interests. Somima was nationalized in 1975, but operations were suspended in 1978. Reactivation of the mine remains a constant concern, as does the extraction of gold from copper ore. Processed copper had been exported along a highway to the wharf at Nouakchott. There are substantial gypsum deposits near Nouakchott; most of the annual production is exported to Senegal. Other mineral resources are minor, and salt output has declined. Reserves of ilmenite (the principal ore of titanium) have been located, and phosphate deposits have been identified near Bofal in the south. 

FISHING
Mauritania has a long coast linking the two capitals, and it is considered one of the richest marine fisheries in the world, but less than 25% of the Mauritanian population are consumers of fish or other marine resources. The exploitation of these resources began in the middle of the 1970s when the country was experiencing a severe drought.  Currently, fish exports represent 50% of gross national exports, greatly benefiting the Mauritanian economy.  This trade constitutes 54% of the export revenue, representing 15% of the GDP and 30% of the general budget.  The country has four large ports (two in Nouakchott and two in Nouadhibou).

Industrial fishing production (tons)

AGRICULTURE :
Approximately 48% of Mauritanians are employed in the agriculture and livestock sectors. Favorable rainfall in 1994 allowed Mauritanian farmers to harvest 186,000 metric tons of grain, an increase of 80,000 tons over the 1993 harvest. The Mauritanian government has engaged in an irrigation project to utilize the 130,000 hectares of arable land. Most of this activity centers around the Senegal River Valley region, though at present only 30,000 hectares are in use. The U.S. Department of Commerce advises foreign investors to exploit the potential of exporting agricultural equipment. Major dam construction projects in neighboring Senegal and Mali are a significant part of this development scheme.

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Oil :
Mauritania produces no oil, however, the possibility of the existence of offshore oil has prompted Nouakchott to explore. The original survey by Beicip-Franlab in 1980 was updated in 1985 and 1992; however, more seismic surveillance is required before the actual production potential can be determined. 

The contractor for an oil production project will recover expenditures of exploration, development and operation from the annual production, and the remainder of the production will be split between the government and the contractor as per their agreement. Contractors will be exempt from taxes and may import and export without duties (Mauritania Today, December 1995). 

The population consumes 9,000 barrels of oil per day.

Finance and Banking :
Reform of the financial sector has led to limits on bank lending and to new laws on debt recovery. The government has begun to sell its holdings in commercial banks and has liquidated the failed Association of Development Banks. Once hard-to-get foreign currency is now freely available through commercial banks and exchange offices. The debt burden has caused an alarming outflow of Mauritanian capital.

MAURITANIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Chambre de Commerce d'Agriculture et d'Industrie de la République Islamique de Mauritanie.
P.O. Box: 215
Phone: (222) 52214 / 52215
La République Avenue
Nouakchott - Mauritania

total: 704 km (single track); note - owned and operated by government mining company ( SNIM )
standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

SNIM Mineral Train " The heaviest and longest train in the world "

Highways:
total: 7,660 km
paved: 866 km
unpaved: 6,794 km (1996 est.)

Airports: 24 (2004 est.) 

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Nouakchott : Two Harbors ( in deep water PANPA and a wharf )
Nouadhibou : Four Harbors ( Mine harboring, Trade and fishing, Petroleum and traditional fishing )

Port Autonome de Nouakchott