The Ministry of Mines: A New Agreement with MCM in 2025 on Entirely Renewed Foundations

The Minister of Mines announced that the current agreement between Mauritania and the Mauritanian Copper Mines (MCM) company will end in June 2025. He stated that the new agreement will differ significantly from the one signed more than 20 years ago. This announcement comes as the Ministry of Mines has recently been separated from the Ministry of Energy, marking an institutional reorganization aimed at focusing efforts on issues specific to the mining sector.

MCM, a subsidiary of the Canadian multinational First Quantum Minerals, has been operating the Guelb Moghrein copper and gold mine in the Akjoujt region for several years. Initially scheduled to cease operations in 2023, the company secured an extension of its agreement until 2025 following the signing of a new deal with the Ministry of Mines. This extension occurred within a context of tensions between MCM and the Mauritanian government.

In 2020, MCM reduced its workforce, citing a significant decline in the mine’s exploitable reserves. This decision raised concerns about both the viability of its operations and the economic and social impact on local communities. Despite these challenges, the company remains one of the main operators in Mauritania’s mining sector, although questions persist about the actual benefits of its activities for the country.

The planned revision of the agreement in 2025 comes in this specific context, where the government appears determined to rethink its mining partnerships to maximize economic benefits while ensuring compliance with contractual obligations.