$303 M granted for Mauritania-Mali interconnection project
The African Development Fund’s Board of Directors has granted a $302.9 million loan for a cross-border power initiative benefiting 100,000 households in Mauritania and Mali.
Image for illustration purposes.
Mali/Mauritania: The African Development Fund’s Board of Directors has granted a $302.9 million loan for a cross-border power initiative benefiting 100,000 households in Mauritania and Mali.
This project, part of the Desert to Power Initiative, allocates $269.6 million to Mauritania and $33.3 million to Mali. Collaborating partners and climate funds will contribute to the total project cost estimated at $888 million. It involves a 225 kV interconnection between the two countries, coupled with the establishment of solar power facilities. It’s a strategic investment aimed at rapidly increasing solar energy production and ensuring widespread access to electricity in both Sahel nations.
The plan encompasses a 1373 km high-voltage interconnection with a 600 MW capacity for energy transfer between the two countries. It also involves constructing a 50 MW solar power plant in Kiffa, Mauritania, linked to the interconnection. 100,000 new households, 80,000 in Mauritania and 20,000 in Mali, along the path will join the power grid. Another aim of the initiative is to create business opportunities, particularly for young individuals and women in agriculture and service sectors.
The project marks the initial phase of the trans-Sahel spine, connecting Mauritania to Chad via Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. This interconnection will pave the way for new renewable energy facilities integrated into interconnected grids. Its implementation promises access to high-quality, eco-friendly electricity at an affordable rate.
Source: Solar Quarter
#interconnection#Mali#Mauritania#Renewables#solar power#transmission line