With Mauritanias best offshore blocks under contract, other companies have lined up to explore onshore blocks, particularly in the Taoudeni Basin in the northeastern part of the Mauritanian desert. In January 2005, Frances Total signed two production sharing contracts, covering nearly 22,394 square miles. Spains Repsol, China National Petroleum Co. and Woodside Petroleum are among the companies that have been awarded Taoudeni blocks.
In March 2005, the Mauritanian government created a separate ministry of Oil and energy to handle the energy portfolio. The ministry is headed by Mohamed Aly Ould Sidi Mohamed. In 2005, Mauritania imported 24,000 bbl/d of petroleum products, as its refinery is not in use. Mauritania also consumes a significant amount of "non-commercial" (i.e., wood, biomass) energy.