Minerva Bunkering has commenced bunkering operations in Mauritania after receiving a licence from the National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNHY), extending its West African footprint.

The Geneva-based company will operate across Mauritanian waters and national ports, with initial operations focused on Nouadhibou and Nouakchott. The service will supply marine fuels to commercial vessels and offshore oil and gas installations in the region.

Tyler Baron, chief executive officer of Minerva Bunkering, said: "Minerva's new operation in Mauritania is consistent with our strategy of increasing the density of the industry's largest physical supply network. Our mission is to lower our clients' total cost of bunkers by leveraging supply chain efficiency and providing unmatched performance on fuel quality and quantity. We are excited to now bring this value proposition to vessels operating in Mauritanian waters."

According to the supplier, Mauritania represents a developing bunkering market, driven by an active fishing fleet, expanding offshore oil and gas activity, and regional trading operations.

Minerva will source multiple grades of marine fuels across various viscosities from its hub in Las Palmas, utilising existing infrastructure to support the Mauritanian operation. The company has deployed three bunkering tankers to serve the market: MT Symi, MT Tethys and MT Karpathos.

Minerva Bunkering is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercuria Energy Group, a privately held energy and commodities company.