- Officials from member countries of the Senegal River Basin Development Authority (OMVS) have inaugurated the 140 MW Gouina hydroelectric scheme.
- This is a sub-regional infrastructure that already supplies four countries in West Africa.
The Senegal River Basin Development Authority (OMVS) launched the Gouina hydroelectric project on December 3, 2022. It occurred in front of representatives from several West African nations, including Mali, Senegal, Guinea, and Mauritania. As a sub-regional project by the OMVS, this infrastructure’s inauguration draws many leaders.
The Senegal River basin, which spans over 1,800 km of West Africa, is managed by this intergovernmental organization, which has its headquarters in Dakar, Senegal. Mali, Senegal, Guinea, and Mauritania established it. The Kayes region of western Mali, 18 km southeast of Diamou, is where the Gouina hydroelectric project is located.
The power plant uses the flow of the Manantali dam (with a 200 MW power plant) upstream to regulate the water flow. It is equipped with three 46.6 MW Kaplan turbines. Former acting prime minister Abdoulaye Maga was just named Mali’s minister of state and minister of territorial administration and decentralization.
It took several years longer than expected to commission the 140 MW hydroelectric facility. The facilities were supposed to be delivered in 2020, according to the Chinese business Sinohydro, which started the project in 2013. However, the work has been slowed down by the fighting in the north of the country known as “Azawad” between the Malian army and multiple Tuareg rebellions that are vying for independence.