The African Development Bank says a new set of project implementation contracts under its Desert to Power initiative will help accelerate the 225 kV Mauritania-Mali Power Interconnection Project and strengthen electricity access across the Sahel.
The contracts were signed with the Manantali Energy Management Company, known as SOGEM, and are part of efforts to improve electricity supply, facilitate cross-border energy trade, and support the stability of national power grids in Mauritania and Mali. The project is designed to link strategic areas in both countries through a high-voltage transmission line.
According to the report, the broader Desert to Power initiative aims to develop 10 gigawatts of solar energy and provide electricity to 250 million people across 11 Sahel countries. It also aligns with Mission 300, a joint AfDB and World Bank programme targeting electricity access for 300 million people in Africa by 2030.
The new agreements cover construction works for the Kiffa-Tintane-Yélimané transmission corridor, a key route for electricity exchange between Mauritania and Mali. They also include the Tintane-Aioun line in Mauritania, along with supervision and monitoring services to ensure quality and timely delivery.
Mauritania’s Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mohamed Ould Khaled, described the project as an “electric line of hope,” saying it lays the foundation for a more integrated regional power market that can support economic growth and improve livelihoods.
AfDB’s Country Manager for Mauritania, Malinne Blomberg, said the launch reflects the bank’s commitment to helping Sahel countries achieve universal electricity access by 2030. The project is expected to deliver a 1,373-kilometre interconnection line and be completed by 2030.