The Mauritania-Mali Power Line Project is set to receive a US $900M boost for the development. This follows a partnership between the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) with the governments of Mauritania and Mali.
The Mauritania-Mali Power Line Project’s primary objective of the project is to promote green, inclusive, and sustainable growth, ultimately improving the living conditions of people in Africa. It also supports the development of green infrastructure in the region.
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Desert-to-Power program
The project will involve deploying almost 1,500 km of high-voltage wires to extend distribution networks and provide electricity to approximately 620,000 people. Several solar power stations will be constructed, increasing the solar capacity by 100 MW. This move aligns with AfDB’s ambitious Desert-to-Power program, which aims to establish the world’s largest solar power-producing region in Africa.
The power line project plays a crucial role in the planned trans-Sahel spine, a regional electrical distribution system that will connect Mauritania to Chad through Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali. This initiative, still in the feasibility stage, forms part of a larger effort to create an integrated and robust energy network across the landlocked countries in the region, contributing to overall regional growth and integration.
The project’s strategic significance has been emphasized by Abdessalam Ould Mohamed Saleh, Mauritania’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development. Apart from enhancing the economy, the project will also connect Mauritania to the Senegal River Basin Development Organization’s grid, further expanding access to electricity and resources in the region.