In 2023, Mali consumed about 4.4 TWh of electricity. Fossil fuels supplied roughly 2.5 TWh, or 57%, while low-carbon sources provided about 1.9 TWh, or 43%. Hydropower dominated clean electricity production, contributing around 1.6 TWh—almost two-fifths of the total. Electricity consumption was just 193 kWh per person, about 5% of the global average of 3,853 kWh per person, or roughly one-twentieth as much. Such limited electricity availability can constrain healthcare, education, irrigation and business activity, while making it harder to electrify everyday activities. Expanding clean electricity would support development while reducing reliance on fossil fuels and their associated air pollution and climate impacts.

Is Electricity Growing in Mali?

Mali’s latest per-person figures show a setback rather than continued growth. Total electricity consumption fell to 193 kWh per person in 2023, down 7 kWh, or about 4%, from the record of 200 kWh reached in 2022. Low-carbon generation stood at 78 kWh per person, about 5% below its earlier record of 82 kWh in 2016. These figures indicate that electricity availability per person has not surpassed previous peaks; they do not, by themselves, establish whether total generation declined. Nevertheless, falling short of earlier per-person records is concerning given Mali’s already very low electricity consumption and its need for greater access.

Suggestions

Mali should prioritize expanding solar electricity alongside grid investment, storage and stronger regional connections, while exploring wind generation at suitable sites. Relevant examples include South Africa, which generated 19 TWh from solar and 11 TWh from wind, and India, with around 223 TWh of solar electricity. Their experience offers lessons in scaling clean electricity across large areas and serving growing demand, although their systems are much larger than Mali’s. Mali should also consider nuclear electricity as a longer-term option, developing expertise and regional partnerships to support it. South Africa’s 11 TWh and Pakistan’s 25 TWh of nuclear generation illustrate its contribution to clean electricity supply. Combining solar expansion with planning for nuclear could help Mali substantially increase low-carbon electricity availability.

History

Mali’s recorded low-carbon electricity history has been shaped mainly by hydropower. In 2000, biofuels generation increased by 0.1 TWh, while hydropower was unchanged. Hydropower then gained 0.2 TWh in 2005 and 0.1 TWh in each of 2008 and 2009, followed by a larger 0.4 TWh increase in 2010. The 2010s brought uneven progress: gains in 2012, 2014 and 2016 were interrupted by declines in 2013, 2015 and 2018. In the early 2020s, solar added 0.1 TWh in 2020 and was unchanged in 2021. Hydropower rose by 0.1 TWh in 2020, fell by the same amount in 2021, then increased by 0.3 TWh in 2022. This uneven history highlights the importance of sustained expansion and a broader clean electricity mix.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade