To increase regional electricity trade, West Africa is working towards a $900m project to build a 1,373km high-voltage power line between Mauritania and Mali, with a capacity of 600MW. It also includes a 50MW solar plant in Kiffa, Mauritania, and the connection of 100,000 new households to the grid.
The project is part of a regional initiative to harness solar energy in the Sahel. It will also create a link in a planned power corridor that will connect Mauritania to Chad, passing through Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali.
It benefits from a strong backing from development partners led by the African Development Bank. Last December, the governments of both countries launched a call for bids on the project. The deadline for submission has been set for February 20, 2024, signaling that the commencement of construction activities is imminent.