Mali’s Energy Crossroads: Weighing Grid Interconnection Against a Solar Future
Mali’s chronic electricity deficits stem from its landlocked status and unreliable hydrocarbon supplies, compounded by degrading wood resources. However, the nation holds a strategic regional energy position, with its true competitive advantage lying in an immense, under-explored solar potential (5-6 kWh/m²/day with 12 hours of daily sunlight). The critical strategic choice for the country is between costly regional grid interconnections and leveraging its abundant renewable resources. The decisive insight is that Mali’s vast solar capacity represents its most viable, sovereign path to closing the demand-supply gap and powering economic growth.











