Linklaters has advised Meridiam, a long-term investor specializing in critical infrastructure, on a partnership with the Mauritanian government to protect and develop Nouakchott’s coastline.
Meridiam acting through The Urban Resilience Fund (TURF), which it manages, has set up Société d’Aménagement du Littoral de Nouakchott (SALN), a joint venture company with the Mauritanian government to protect the city of Nouakchott against the risks of erosion and flooding and to develop its coastline for the benefit of local residents.
The project has a cost of circa EUR 60m, which is intended to be financed with equity as well as with debt, including from development finance institutions, and with grants.
The Project aims to reinforce and plant the dune cordon along the coast; create new foothpaths and paths between the town and the coast; building rainwater drainage solutions; building a bypass to protect the south of the city from the risk of flooding; redeveloping the Nouakchott fish market; and enhancing the value of certain coastal areas by developing new economic activities.
The Linklaters team in Paris was composed of Energy and Infrastructure counsel Aymeric Voisin and Corporate/M&A counsel Thomas Pontacq. Pierre Guillot, formerly a Public law partner, also intervened.
