The Senegalese affiliate of Mali-based Kama SA Group intends to build a gas-fired power plant in the Sandiara Special Economic Zone of Senegal.

Mali’s energy sector confronts issues, such as a shortage of energy output, rising demand, and restricted access to contemporary energy services, particularly in remote areas. Despite possessing enormous amounts of renewable energy sources like hydroelectricity and solar energy, they are still mostly unexplored. Electrical outages also have an impact on the nation’s economy. Because of the aging infrastructure’s inability to keep up with the 10% annual increase in electricity demand. Mali’s Ministry of Energy set a cap on energy prices to solve the country’s power problems. However, production costs are still high, creating opportunities for the country to enter adjacent markets.

According to Cissé, Country Manager of Kama in Senegal, “Kama is also interested in Mauritania, “Due to both Senegal and Mauritania being on track to become major gas producers this year. Mali has a lot of mineral resources, especially in the area bordering Senegal, where there are a lot of mines. This sector requires a lot of power. However, because it is a landlocked nation, there is a substantial energy imbalance.”

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More on the proposed gas-fired power plant

The project will convert gas from domestic projects in Senegal into electricity. Which will then be exported to neighboring Mali through the project’s connection to the country’s national grid. According to Haoua Cisse, “the environmental study is currently underway, and construction is anticipated to start in January 2024.”

Cissé explains that, “We want to repeat what we did in Ivory Coast with the gas-to-power plant in Sandiara. Which is to harness local gas, turn it into energy, and then send it to the Malian grid.”

It is less expensive to establish projects in local markets. And connect them to Mali’s grid than it is to transfer gas to the country’s power plants. For Kama SA, this method is a novel and effective means of enhancing the country’s supply of electricity. Since its active entry into the energy market in 2003, the firm has accumulated substantial knowledge in a variety of fields, including the supply and installation of electrical equipment such power plants, substations, and high-voltage transmission lines.

“In addition to the proposed gas-fired power plant, Kama Group has expanded tremendously, working on projects like the construction of electricity poles in Morocco and the transportation of hydrocarbons in Ivory Coast,” stressed Cissé.