Amid declining cotton production in Mali, a fire gutted a factory of the Malian Textile Development Company (CMDT).
The fire broke out during the night of March 8-9, 2025, at the factory of the Malian Textile Development Company (CMDT), located in the Bamako industrial zone. The fire destroyed a pile of cotton fiber bales stored in the factory courtyard.
According to available information, the fire destroyed 1,026 bales of cotton, representing an estimated value of 250 million CFA francs, approximately $415,000. Authorities stated that these bales were fully insured, which should allow the CMDT to compensate for the financial losses incurred.
As soon as the incident was announced, a delegation led by the Minister of Agriculture visited the site to assess the extent of the damage.
At the end of this visit, several recommendations were made to strengthen site security and prevent similar incidents in the future.
It was decided to clearly demarcate the plot housing the plant and to evacuate the illegal occupants living near the facility.
The reconstruction of the perimeter wall in accordance with current safety standards was also recommended, as was the installation of a fire hydrant to ensure a rapid response in the event of a disaster.
Finally, the overall strengthening of the site’s security system was deemed essential to prevent further incidents and protect CMDT’s strategic infrastructure.
Security measures in place
The Bamako plant already has a security system consisting of several fire hydrants, supplied by booster pumps connected to a 260 m³ water reserve.
This system automatically maintains a constant pressure of 10 bars. A dedicated team provides 24-hour surveillance throughout the site to prevent and fight fires.
This incident comes at a time when Mali’s cotton production is declining. For the 2024/2025 season, the seed cotton harvest is estimated at 569,300 tons, a 17% decrease from the 690,000 tons produced during the previous season.
This decline is attributed to unfavourable weather conditions, including localised flooding that affected crops.
Despite these challenges, the CMDT has secured $240 million in funding to support its cotton activities during the 2024/2025 season.
This financial support aims to stabilise the sector and ensure operational continuity despite the uncertainties.
MD/ac/Sf/fss/as/APA