ENERGY SECTOR OVERVIEW

Although Mali is endowed with plentiful solar and hydro potential, it currently only has about 310 MW of ongrid installed generation capacity to serve a population of almost 18 million people. Mali imports another 27 MW and has approximately 70 MW of off-grid production. Mali has one state-owned electric utility: Energie du Mali S.A. (EDM). Electricity demand is growing at about 10% per year, exacerbating the shortage of supply and worsening the challenge the government faces in trying to close the gap. Supply, on the other hand, grew on average 8.1% per year between 2005 and 2015. As a result, Mali’s government is working to expand its electricity supply and encourage investment in the energy sector to stimulate the economy.

GENERATION CAPACITY

• Installed Capacity: ~310 MW
  • Diesel: 40%
  • Hydro: 60%
• Reached Financial Close: 90
• Power Africa 2030 Pipeline: 240 MW

CONNECTIONS

• Current Access Rate: 35%
  • Rural: 18% Urban: 55-60%
• People without Power: 13 million
• Power Africa New Off-Grid Connections: 162,253

INVESTMENT AND ENABLING ENVIRONMENT

Biggest Issues

1. Insecurity and Governance
2. Creditworthiness of utility
3. Unstable grid network

Power Africa Interventions

1. Transaction Advisory Assistance
2. Support access to off-grid electricity

POWER AFRICA’S ENGAGEMENT IN MALI

MW GENERATION

Power Africa supports power sector develop in Mali primarily through USAID transaction advisory services, offered at a regional level. This assistance focuses on project development support that brings private sector transactions closer to financial close. The U.S. Department of Commerce has also supported power generation projects through commercial advocacy.

CONNECTIONS

Power Africa has supported access to electricity with the aim of increasing rural electrification rates. Through official private sector partners operating in the off-grid sector, Power Africa has supported 150,000 off-grid connections in Mali since its inception. The majority of these connections are solar lanterns, while the rest are more advanced solar home systems.