Mauritania and Mali have taken a major step toward strengthening regional energy cooperation by signing key contracts for the construction of a high-voltage electricity interconnection project. The agreements were signed during an official ceremony held in late April 2026 and attended by Mauritania’s Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mohamed Ould Khaled, along with the Minister of Economic Affairs, Abdallahi Ould Suleyman Ould Cheikh Sidiya.
The newly signed contracts are part of the larger 225 kV Mauritania-Mali Power Interconnection and Related Solar Power Plants Development Project, also known as PIEMM. The current phase focuses on the development of a 184-kilometer transmission line inside Mauritania. The project includes a 114-kilometer section linking Kiffa and Teintane, along with an additional 70-kilometer extension connecting Teintane to Ayoune. The contracts also cover the construction of modern substations in these areas to improve electricity transmission and distribution.
The interconnection project forms part of the African Development Bank’s “Desert to Power” initiative, which aims to transform the Sahel region into a major hub for solar energy generation. The Kiffa–Teintane–Ayoune section alone is estimated to cost around $135 million. Financial support for the project is being provided by several international institutions, including the African Development Bank, the Green Climate Fund, and the OPEC Fund for International Development.
Once completed, the overall project will create a 1,373-kilometer transmission corridor connecting the electricity grids of Mauritania and Mali. The project is expected to improve regional energy security by enabling cross-border electricity exchange, reducing dependence on expensive thermal power generation, and supporting the integration of renewable energy into the regional grid.
A key feature of the initiative is the planned development of 100 MW of solar power capacity in Mauritania. This renewable energy generation will help supply cleaner electricity to both countries and support long-term sustainability goals.
The social and economic impact of the project is expected to be significant. Around 100,000 households are projected to gain access to electricity, including nearly 80,000 households in Mauritania and 20,000 in Mali. In addition, about 150 rural and agro-pastoral communities are expected to benefit from improved energy access, helping support schools, healthcare facilities, and local economic activities.
The project is also viewed as an important step toward deeper regional cooperation under the framework of the Senegal River Investment Organization, while supporting broader efforts to expand clean and reliable energy access across West Africa.
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