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K · #1 6 Mar 2020

Hi all,
Is there a good supply of fuel stations and how frequent are they in the Western Sahara and Mauritiana
Thanks.

**Stephen Matthews** · #2 6 Mar 2020

I rode through there just over one year ago. I don't remember having issues with finding fuel along the coast. My fuel range is about 200 miles.

Nouakchott to Atar is a long stretch. There are stations half way that sell only diesel. Some stations in Atar sell petrol, but not all. When I rode from Nouakchott to Atar (read my blog post here), I encountered strong head winds that increased my fuel consumption.

When I plan fuel stops, I use maps.me and Google maps apps.

If I know there are issues with fuel availability in a country, I fill up regularly when I see stations, even it's a 1/4 tank, and also carry extra.

**Jim Lad** · #3 6 Mar 2020

If you are going down the coast road from Nouadhibou to Nouakchott you need to be carry enough fuel for the 300 mile stretch between the 2 cities. Also allow for increased fuel use because your bike may be heavily loaded and you might have a head wind. There is a service station about half way and I've visited it 4 times and it had petrol 3 times, so can't be relied on. In Western Sahara there is one streatch of 100 miles between fuel stations so the mantra should be, fill up while you can.

On one trip I stayed near Dakhla, noted the service station at the junction as I passed, feeling confident I could fill up in the morning. When I arrived in the morning the guy with the key was still asleep, so no petrol. Waited about 30 minutes but was reassured by locals there were further stations down the road to Mauritania. I headed off south with a half empty tank. The first station at about 30km was closed, the next one at 50km had no petrol and I was very relived that the 3rd one had petrol. Lesson I learned, fill up in the evening when you know the station is open and has petrol. Good luck and enjoy the desert.

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**Chris Scott** · #4 7 Mar 2020

Been looking into this myself.
There is now a fuel station right at the Morocco border.
Apart from going 50km in to NDB, the next proper station on the N2 (not overpriced from drums) is in Chami; 200km from the border and 270km from NKT.
According to iOverlander and other sources, two stations in a town and another 13km south of Chami, plus another at Tiouilit, 100km from NKT and maybe more besides.

Hard to think all of these in RIM will have no petrol (diesel seems more reliable) but as JL says, it pays not to leave it too long in remote locales.

**PanEuropean** · #5 8 Mar 2020

You will have no problem finding fuel along the highway in former Western Sahara (the area that is now administered by Morocco). Fuel is available in all the major settlements along the way.

Having said that, do keep in mind that the coast road in Western Sahara is a "sparsely settled area" - similar to riding in far northern Canada, or across rural parts of the United States. So, don't pass up the opportunity to fill your tank when possible - try to avoid riding with less than half a tank of fuel. You might see gaps of 70 to 100 km between fuel stations.

I have not gone south of the border between Western Sahara and Mauritania, so I cannot comment on that.

Michael

**Chris Scott** · #6 16 Mar 2020

Quote:

You might see gaps of 70 to 100 km between fuel stations.

In Spring 2020 the longest gap was 162km between a station just south of Imlili (Tchika?)
23.20828 -16.09467
and Bir Gandouz near the border.
There is SFA on this section except the wind.

Coming north, the pumps at Tchika (90km from Dak Jct) were on but no one was home.
The next place, El Agroub South, I was ignored.
And at El Agroub North I was waved on.

These questionable 3 (see map below) are all grubby old Atlas Saharas or similar.
I would not rely on them for fuel.

Which meant I got to Dakhla Junction (2 fuel stations close together) after 252km but just half a litre in the tank. Normally get 380km+ but strong headwind.

So southbound I'd advise filling up at Dakhla Junction.
And northbound, expect much-reduced fuel consumption