Russian energy company NovaWind, a subsidiary of Rosatom, has commenced the construction of a significant solar power plant in the Malian town of Sanankoroba, as per the administration of Mali’s transitional president. The collaboration between Mali and Russia saw the inauguration of the largest solar power plant project in West Africa on Friday, announced Malian Energy Minister Bintou Camara via national television.
This venture comes at a critical time for Mali, which has been grappling with electricity supply challenges, with only half of its population having access to this essential resource. The solar power station, expected to be the largest in the country and the subregion, is poised to substantially alleviate the existing electricity shortages, shared Minister Camara with Malian TV station ORTM.
Grigory Nazarov, the director of NovaWind, expressed that the initiative is set to boost Mali’s electricity production by 10%. The 200-megawatt solar station, spanning 314 hectares in Sanankoroba near Bamako, is projected to be completed within a year, with an estimated cost exceeding 200 million euros ($217 million).
Nazarov highlighted that the solar power plant is engineered for stable operation over the next two decades and will transition to the full control of the Malian Ministry of Energy after 10 years. With Malian electricity production heavily reliant on thermal sources, which are financially burdensome, Finance Minister Alousseni Sanou emphasized the strategic importance of transitioning towards more sustainable energy solutions.
Further efforts to bolster Mali’s energy infrastructure include the upcoming construction of two additional solar plants near Bamako, scheduled to commence in the coming weeks and executed by Chinese and Emirati companies. This development underscores a larger trend of international cooperation to address the pressing energy needs in Mali and empower the country towards sustainable growth.
Furthermore, the project signifies Russia’s expanding role in Mali, paralleled by the deployment of Wagner Group mercenaries, aligning with Moscow’s strategic interests in the resource-rich African continent since the past decade.
