The Mauritania-Mali interconnection and solar power project is set to receive a US $302.9M boost after the African Development Fund (ADF), the concessional window of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), gave a greenlight for the funds.
The Mauritania-Mali interconnection and solar power project is part of the Desert to Power Initiative. It represents the first section of a trans-Sahel spine connecting Mauritania to Chad via Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
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Scope of work
The project is expected to contribute to the integration of new renewables. It aims to improve access to affordable, low-carbon electricity in the region. The initiative is anticipated to facilitate regional integration and development, fostering economic growth in the participating countries.
The project involves the construction of a 1,373-km high-voltage electrical interconnection between Mauritania and Mali. The interconnection will have a transfer capacity of 600 MW. Additionally, a 50-MW solar farm will be assembled in Kiffa, Mauritania, linked to the interconnection.
The 225-kV line will connect approximately 100,000 new households to the power grid. Of these households, 80,000 will be in Mauritania, and 20,000 will be in Mali. The project aims to create opportunities for young people and women to set up businesses, contributing to socio-economic development.
The estimated total cost of the project is US $888M. The ADF will provide US $269.6M for Mauritania and Mali will receive US $33M. Additional partners, including climate funds, will contribute unspecified amounts to the project cost.