- A solar mini-grid installed by WeLight in Karan, Mali, has provided 24/7 electricity, improving businesses and livelihoods while reducing reliance on costly diesel generators.
- Despite these successes, Mali faces significant electrification challenges due to high costs, lack of subsidies, and political instability.
A solar power plant in Karan, a remote village in Mali, has transformed daily life and sparked hopes for wider electricity access in the country.
Karan, a border village with 3,000 people, used to experience frequent power outages. Now, thanks to a solar mini-grid operated by Madagascan company WeLight, electricity is available around the clock. The system, installed in 2021, consists of dozens of solar panels and storage batteries.
Residents say the impact has been life-changing. Samba Diakité, a local baker, used to rely on a diesel generator that cost him $100 a day. “Since the solar power arrived, I saved more than half of that amount,” he said. His daily income has also increased to $124.
However, Mali still has a long way to go. Many rural areas remain without electricity, affecting businesses and education. As of 2021, only 53% of Mali’s population had electricity, and in rural areas, access was just 25%, according to Abdoulaye Makan Sissoko from Mali’s rural electrification agency.
Experts estimate Mali needs $1.3 billion to extend electricity networks and install more mini-grids. The government has encouraged solar energy use by removing customs duties on equipment and promising subsidies. But without subsidies, solar power remains twice as expensive as fossil fuel energy in cities.
Residents in electrified villages pay an installation fee between $30 and $164 for a meter, while electricity costs around $0.50 per kilowatt. So far, 32 solar mini-plants have been built in four southern and southwestern regions, supplying power to over 2 million people. These projects are managed by WeLight and German-owned Africa GreenTec.
Brice Bado, WeLight’s sales manager, said demand is rising fast. “We started with 48 connections, and now we have over 200. We had to expand our generation capacity to meet demand,” he said.
Recognising the urgent need for electricity, the government introduced new levies on phone credit, mobile money, and alcohol sales to raise funds for energy projects. In March, telephone companies imposed a 10% levy on credit top-ups and a 1% fee on mobile money withdrawals.
But Mali’s political instability has slowed progress. After two coups, relations with key foreign partners deteriorated, leading to the cancellation of major electrification projects. A $39.5 million project funded by France and the EU was scrapped. The Islamic Development Bank’s project to electrify 24 villages was also cancelled after the government ordered a contract review.
In 2023, the World Bank suspended $60 million in funding for Mali’s state energy company over a financing dispute. Beverly Ochieng, a security analyst, said political instability, insecurity, and poor governance have made it difficult for Sahel countries to achieve electrification goals. Ongoing extremist attacks also limit where solar mini-grids can be safely installed.
Despite these challenges, Karan’s solar plant has brought relief. Issa Doumbia, a welder, used to spend $16 to $23 daily on diesel but now pays only $8 for solar electricity. “The market is small, so I hope the price of electricity will go down,” he said
Trader Mah Konaré expressed her gratitude for the new solar-powered streetlights. “Beyond myself, these lights bring security to the village,” she said. “I now feel safe when my father goes to the mosque at night.”