Energy regulators from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger met in Bamako on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, under the chairmanship of Malian Prime Minister, General Abdoulaye Maiga, to harmonise their policies, strengthen energy security and promote renewable energy.
The first meeting of energy regulators from the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), which brings together the three neighbours aims to also reduce costs, improve market efficiency, and facilitate the integration of renewable energy.
The Malian PM emphasised the importance of this collaboration, stating that “the people of Agadez, Tenkodogo, and Taoudeni feel they share the same energy, through a shared vision of solidarity.”
The AES countries possess considerable energy potential, particularly in renewable resources. Burkina Faso, for example, benefits from an average solar irradiation of 5.5 kWh/square metre/day for 3,000 to 3,500 hours per year.
Mali has an estimated solar production potential of 3,978.7 GW and wind power of 1.25 GW, concentrated in the southern and southwestern regions.
Projects such as the Zina solar power plant in Burkina Faso, with a capacity of 26.6 MW, which is expected to be commissioned in May 2024, illustrate the ongoing efforts to harness these resources.
Persistent Challenges
Despite these initiatives, the ESA countries face major challenges.
The electricity access rate remains low: 21.7 percent in Burkina Faso, 53 percent in Mali, and 19.5 percent in Niger. In rural areas, these rates will drop to 5.49 percent in Burkina Faso in 2022 and to around 11 percent in Niger.
The energy sector also faces high technical and commercial losses, an infrastructure deficit, low private sector competitiveness, and dependence on imported fossil fuels. For example, in Burkina Faso, electricity production is dominated by expensive thermal power plants, which affects the sector’s financial viability.
Towards a harmonised regulation
The meeting of ESA regulators marks a step towards harmonised regulation of the energy sector. The objective is to create an enabling environment for investment, strengthen institutional capacity, and promote decentralised energy solutions, particularly in rural areas.
Initiatives such as the Desert to Power program, supported by the African Development Bank, aim to transform the Sahel into a 10,000 megawatts solar power production zone.
The Confederation of Sahel States is committed to addressing the region’s energy challenges through cooperation and policy integration.
Stakeholders said the political will shown at the meeting demonstrates a determination to transform the Sahel’s energy landscape, with a focus on universal access to electricity, the development of renewable energy, and energy sovereignty.
MD/ac/Sf/fss/as/APA