In a significant move to stabilize the energy supply for its capital, the Malian government has ratified a 36.07 billion CFA franc (approximately US$60 million) financing agreement with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
The funding is specifically earmarked for the construction of the 225 kV Northern Loop, a high-voltage transmission project designed to reinforce Bamako’s electrical grid.
The agreement was officially approved by the Malian Council of Ministers on December 31, 2025. Structured as an installment sale consistent with Islamic financial principles, the capital will be used exclusively for transmission infrastructure rather than power generation. The primary goal is to increase the capacity and reliability of the network, allowing Bamako to efficiently receive electricity from regional interconnections, particularly those originating from the Senegal River basin.
Operational oversight of the project has been assigned to the national utility company, Energie du Mali (EDM-SA). Technical plans for the Northern Loop include the construction of new 225 kV transmission lines, the expansion of existing electrical substations, and the creation of new substations at strategic points around the capital.
This initiative is part of a broader, multi-institutional effort to modernize Mali’s energy landscape. Other major partners, including the African Development Bank, are supporting similar projects aimed at integrating Mali into the wider West African regional power grids. With the ratification of these agreements—originally signed in September 2024—the government is now set to begin calls for tenders and detailed technical studies, clearing the path for construction to commence.
MD/ac/fss/abj/APA