Spain to intensify oil production in Mauritania

Oct 30, 2006, 13:01 GMT

Madrid - Mauritanian President Ely Ould Mohammed Vall on Monday stressed the need to upgrade his country's relations with Spain in the economic, security, political and strategic areas.

Ould Vall met Spanish businessmen at the start of a two-day official visit, his first to Spain.

The relations between Spain and the northwest African desert country have gained importance with the arrival in the Canary Islands this year of tens of thousands of African undocumented immigrants, many of whom use Mauritania as their departure point.

Joint Spanish-Mauritanian patrols have intercepted boats carrying 11,000 illegals, who were sent back to their countries, Ould Vall told the daily El Pais.

Ould Vall was expected to propose to Spain a 'strategic alliance' allowing Spanish companies to participate more intensively in extracting Mauritanian oil and gas in exchange for investments and tourism counselling, according to the daily.

Mauritania is one of Africa's new oil producers. Companies including Spain's Repsol are extracting 75,000 barrels a day, a figure which is expected to soon soar to 300,000 barrels, possibly earning the Islamic republic an annual income of more than 1.5 billion dollars.

Ould Vall was scheduled to meet King Juan Carlos, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and several ministers.

Ould Vall ousted long-time president Maaouya Ould Taya in a bloodless military coup in August 2005. His democratization plans enjoy widespread support.