Mali Partners With NovaWind For 200 MW Solar Power Plant Initiative

As Mali grapples with an ongoing electricity crisis that hampers economic growth, transitional President Assimi Goïta laid the foundation stone for a new 200 MW photovoltaic solar power plant. The Russian company NovaWind, a subsidiary of Rosatom, is constructing the plant, marking a significant step in the country’s energy sector.

In recent weeks, Mali’s transitional government has intensified efforts to implement this solution nationwide. On May 24, 2024, President Goïta visited Sanankoroba in the Kati Cercle to initiate the construction of the largest solar power plant in sub-Saharan Africa, covering 314 hectares. About thirty kilometers from the capital, Bamako, this project is part of a government partnership with NovaWind. The company, based in Moscow, recently entered into an agreement with Kyrgyzstan to develop 1,000 MW of renewable energy.

NovaWind will invest €200 million in the Mali project, expected to be operational in 12 months. The plant aims to supply 10% of Mali’s electricity. Before the construction commenced, President Goïta met with NovaWind’s Managing Director, Grigory Nazarov, to discuss the project’s progress. The Malian government emphasized that this initiative is crucial for diversifying Mali’s energy mix and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

“With this state-of-the-art infrastructure in Sanankoroba, Mali is on the path to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future,” said President Goïta. Additionally, the Malian government recently approved an amendment to the concession agreement for constructing a 50 MWp solar photovoltaic power plant in Tiakadougou-Dialokoro, also in the Kati Cercle. This plant, in development since 2020, will be built by the Emirati company Amea Power under a public-private partnership (PPP).