The Strait of Gibraltar and the Canary Islands are no longer the only friction points for control of bunkering in the mid-Atlantic. Mauritania has burst onto the marine fuel market with the granting of physical supply licenses to two of the strongest operators in the global sector: Peninsula and Minerva Bunkering. The decision by the Mauritanian National Hydrocarbons Commission to liberalize this service marks a turning point for West African trade routes, transforming technical stops in the waters of Nouadhibou and Nouakchott into a competitive alternative to traditional ports, namely the Canary Islands.
Peninsula has claimed leadership in this new market by being the first company to formalize its license after a rigorous bidding process. The global provider, operating from Gibraltar, has already deployed two barges in the region capable of supplying both fuel oil and marine gasoil (LSMGO) under ISO 8217:2022 standards. The firm is authorized to expand its fleet to three units, consolidating an infrastructure aimed at capturing the traffic of commercial vessels transiting south towards the continent.
The Las Palmas-Mauritania Logistics Axis
The entry of Minerva Bunkering into the Mauritanian scene reinforces the interconnection between the Canary archipelago and the African coast. The company has confirmed that its operation will directly rely on its logistics center in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, from which the supply of fuel will be coordinated. For this mission, Minerva has mobilized three supply tanker vessels — MT Symi, MT Tethys, and MT Karpathos — designed to deliver to both large-draft commercial vessels and oil and gas facilities operating offshore.
This synergy, for lack of a better term, with the Canary Islands is not coincidental. Currently, the storage infrastructure in the Gran Canaria port allows physical suppliers to guarantee product quality and stability of supply flow in a Mauritanian market that is still developing its land storage capabilities. For Minerva, the initial focus on Nouadhibou and Nouakchott responds to the need to support exploration and extraction projects for hydrocarbons on the continental shelf, a sector that demands highly specialized services and minimal response times.
A Strategic Frontier for Global Trade
The commitment of Peninsula and Minerva to Mauritania must be viewed as geographic expansion in light of overcrowding at traditional hubs. The African Atlantic corridor has experienced a notable increase in offshore activity, generating a captive demand that until now had to divert to other ports for refueling. With the physical presence of these barges, Mauritania positions itself as a maritime services node capable of retaining added value in its own territorial waters.
The movement of these multinationals underscores the appetite for new markets where competition is still emerging. By obtaining official licenses, Peninsula and Minerva not only secure a market share but also establish operational standards in a country that aims to turn its maritime façade into an economic engine. The race for bunkering in West Africa has begun, and the deployment of these fleets in Mauritania confirms that fuel logistics no longer recognizes static borders, but rather proximity to demand and efficiency of supply.
