Electricity in Mali in 2021

In recent numbers from 2021, Mali’s electricity consumption is divided between fossil and low-carbon sources. The country generates a bit over 2 TWh of fossil energy while low-carbon sources, primarily hydro, provide 1 TWh of electricity. Therefore, nearly a third of Mali's electricity generation is low-carbon. However, the per-person average electrical use is still exceptionally low compared to the global average of 410 watts per person. This overall lack of electricity generation can severely limit the country's economic development potential. Such limitations can make accessing essential services like health, education, and clean water problematic while also slowing down industrial and business innovation due to an unreliable power supply.

Suggestions

To increase its clean electricity generation, Mali can gain insights from countries where low-carbon energy has become a significant power source. For instance, in regions similar to Mali, like India and Brazil, sizable advancements have been made with solar and wind energy, generating 120 TWh and 94 TWh respectively. Considering Mali's ample sunlight and wind conditions, these energy sources could be better exploited, potentially boosting the country's low-carbon electricity generation significantly. Moreover, despite the socio-political differences, lessons can also be learned from the vast low-carbon electricity outputs in countries like China and the US, where wind and solar energy are being utilized extensively.

History

Looking at the history of low-carbon electricity generation in Mali, the main source over the past few decades has been hydropower. The turn of the millennium saw this start from a zero baseline, with first significant generation recorded in 2005. The following years showed sporadic growth, with larger increments seen in 2010 and 2016. However, not all years brought increases, with periods of stagnation and even regression occurring in 2013, 2015, and as recent as 2019. The record shows no evidence of nuclear power or any other low-carbon sources except biofuels, which have seen no growth since the first mention in 2000. Overall, while Mali has made some progress in low-carbon electricity generation mostly through hydropower, there's considerable room for diversification and expansion into other low-carbon sources such as wind and solar.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources