What is the energy access problem in Mali?

Mali faces a critical energy access challenge. The national power access rate was 50% in 2019 (compared to 36.11% in 2015). The problem is particularly acute in rural areas with 21.12% access rate in 2019 (compared to 15.75% in 2015).

How many people in Mali have access to electricity?

In Mali, less than half of the population has access to electricity, whereas in rural areas access is limited to only 16.7% of the population. In terms of modern fuels, access is extremely low, at only 2% and 3% for rural and urban areas, respectively. Energy access is widely recognised as essential to improve economic welfare.

What should Mali do about renewable-based electricity?

Mali also should provide guidelines and standards to accommodate renewable-based electricity. Consultation with relevant stakeholders is crucial, since grid connection codes impact on all those involved in the power system. By engaging the relevant parties, codes will be able to be implemented without placing the system in jeopardy.

Is Mali ready to scale up renewables?

The Ministry, working through the Mali Renewable Energy Agency (AER-Mali), has initiated a partnership with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to assess Mali’s readiness to scale up renewables.

What are the main sources of electricity in Mali?

At present, thermal and large-scale hydropower plants are the main sources of electricity supply on the national grid. Renewable energy could provide the most competitive form of power in Mali due to today’s advanced technological reliability, declining technology costs and high resource potential.

Will Mali achieve universal access to electricity by 2030?

For clean cooking, Mali targets universal access by 2030. In recent years, the rate of access to electricity in Mali has surpassed 25%, thanks to a public focus on mini-grid solutions. The government of Mali now plans to increase hybridisation of its mini-grids by adding PV capacity to diesel power plants.