In 2023, Mali’s electricity consumption totaled about 4.4 TWh. Fossil sources supplied 2.5 TWh, or roughly 57%, while low-carbon sources provided about 1.9 TWh, or 43%. Hydropower dominated clean electricity generation at about 1.6 TWh—almost 38% of the total. Annual electricity consumption was just 193 kWh per person, around 5% of the global average of 3,794 kWh per person, or roughly one-twentieth as much. Such limited electricity availability can constrain healthcare, education, water services and businesses, while making industrial development and wider electrification harder.

Is Electricity Growing in Mali?

Mali’s latest figures show a disappointing retreat rather than growth in electricity consumption per person. The 2023 figure of 193 kWh was 7 kWh below the record of 200 kWh reached in 2022—a decline of about 4%. Low-carbon electricity generation per person was also below its historical peak: 78 kWh in 2023 compared with 82 kWh in 2016, a shortfall of about 5%. These figures show that electricity availability per person has not sustained its earlier gains; they do not, by themselves, establish whether total generation declined. Expanding clean electricity faster than population growth is essential to improve access and support future demand.

Suggestions

Mali should prioritize a substantial expansion of solar electricity, supported by stronger grids, storage and local technical training, while exploring wind where resource assessments justify it. Relevant examples include South Africa, with 20 TWh of solar generation, and sunny Pakistan, with 41 TWh; both offer lessons in building solar generation at a meaningful scale. India’s 205 TWh of solar generation also illustrates the potential of sustained deployment. Alongside these efforts, Mali should consider a long-term nuclear electricity pathway through regional cooperation, workforce development and institutional preparation. South Africa’s 12 TWh of nuclear electricity and Pakistan’s 22 TWh provide useful examples of nuclear contributing dependable low-carbon electricity alongside solar. These regions offer lessons rather than directly transferable targets: Mali’s expansion should be tailored to its electricity needs and development plans, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and their climate and air-pollution impacts.

History

Historically, Mali’s low-carbon electricity growth has centered on hydropower, with uneven progress. In 2000, biofuels generation increased by 0.1 TWh, while hydropower was unchanged. Hydro then added 0.2 TWh in 2005 and 0.1 TWh in each of 2008 and 2009, followed by a larger 0.4 TWh gain in 2010. The 2010s brought repeated advances and setbacks: increases of 0.1 TWh in 2012, 0.3 TWh in 2014 and 0.4 TWh in 2016 were interrupted by declines in 2013, 2015 and 2018. In 2020, solar and hydro each added 0.1 TWh; solar showed no further increase in 2021, while hydro fell by 0.1 TWh before rebounding by 0.3 TWh in 2022. This uneven history underscores the importance of sustained investment in a broader clean electricity supply, particularly solar alongside continued hydropower and consideration of nuclear.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade