The African Development Bank Group has approved US$68.26 million for Mali to support the implementation of the Bamako 225 kV North Loop Project (PBNB).
The financing package comprises $35.27 million from the African Development Fund, $18.99 million from the Transition Support Facility, $5 million from the Climate Investment Fund, and a $6.8 million grant, along with an additional $2.2 million grant from the Green Climate Fund.
This total commitment represents 36.13 percent of the total project cost, estimated at $190 million.
Cofinancing will be provided by the West African Development Bank (27.36 percent), the Islamic Development Bank (32.91 percent), and the Government of Mali (3.6 percent).
The initiative addresses critical challenges in the electricity sub-sector, including low access rates (55.8 percent nationally in 2023—86.6 percent in urban areas and 30.4 percent in rural areas), an average annual demand increase of 10 percent, insufficient generation capacity of 903.6 megawatts in 2023 (more than 54 percent of which was thermal), losses of 22 percent (including 10 percent technical losses), dependence on fuel imports, and financial pressure that requires state subsidies.
The project includes the construction of a 225-kilovolt double-circuit transmission line between the Kodialani and Dialakorobougou substations, and two new 225/33-kilovolt substations in Safo and Kénié. It also involves the expansion of three existing substations (Kodialani, Kambila and Dialakorobougou), as well as the installation of medium- and low-voltage lines to reconfigure the network and electrify new neighbourhoods.
The project will also connect 10,000 new households and productive users, install 2,000 smart meters for high-voltage customers, and increase transmission capacity to 600 megawatts.
Around 320 temporary jobs (20 percent allocated to women) and 60 permanent jobs will be created. In addition, 60 young graduates (half of them women) will receive professional internships to improve their employability.
Environmental and social measures will include public consultations, support to municipalities for land management, and stakeholder training. The project is also expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.12 MtCO₂e per year, representing a reduction of more than 50 percent of the emissions that would be generated by the current energy system without the project.
The project will run for five years, from January 2026 to December 2030, and will benefit the entire population of Bamako, the Malian capital.
Commenting on the approval, Lamin Barrow, the Bank Group’s Director General for West Africa, said: “This project will help safeguard Bamako’s electricity supply and guarantee access to reliable, sustainable and modern energy services at an affordable cost.”
He added: “It should also boost agricultural value chains and employment opportunities for young people and women.”
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