The Sikasso Solar Power Station is a planned 50 MW solar power plant in Mali. The project which will be developed in phases, will see 29.6 megawatts developed in the first phase. The power station is under development by PowerPro, a subsidiary of the Italian engineering and construction conglomerate, Building Energy. The energy developed here will be sold to the Malian electricity distribution utility company Énergie du Mali (EDM), under a 28-year power purchase agreement.[1][2]
| Sikasso Solar Power Station | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | Mali |
| Location | Sikasso, Sikasso Cercle, Sikasso Region |
| Coordinates | 11°18′28″N 05°36′25″W / 11.30778°N 5.60694°W |
| Status | Proposed |
| Construction began | 2022 (Expected) |
| Commission date | 2024 (Expected) |
| Construction cost | ~ US$87 million |
| Owner(s) | PowerPro |
| Operator(s) | PowerPro |
| Solar farm | |
| Type | Flat-panel PV |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity | 50 MW |
Location edit
The power station would be located in Sikasso Region, in the south of the country, near the city of Sikasso, the second largest city in Mali. Sikasso is located approximately 370 kilometres (230 mi), by road, southeast of Bamako, the capital and largest city in the country.[3]
Overview edit
The Government of Mali is developing this renewable energy infrastructure project under the Build-Operate-Own-Transfer (BOOT) model, in this public private partnership (PPP) arrangement.[4]
A 28-year power purchase agreement has already been signed between EDM and the power station developers. This power station is expected to improve the quality of the public electricity network in the country and reduce the average cost of energy, in addition to increasing the production capacity of the "interconnected network". Mali is a member of the West African Power Pool.[1][2][4]
Developers edit
The power station is being developed by PowerPro, a subsidiary of Building Energy, an engineering and construction conglomerate based in Italy.[1][2][4]
Funding edit
In 2018, the World Bank Group, through the International Development Association, agreed to lend the government of Mali US$52 million towards the development of this power station.[1][2]
Other considerations edit
In a related development, in August 2021, the Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited (KPTL), with funding from the Exim Bank of India, started construction of the 398 kilometres (247 mi) 225 kiloVolt Bamako-Sikasso High Voltage Power Transmission Line.[5]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d African Energy (19 April 2019). "Mali: Cabinet Approves Sikasso Solar Project". Arica-Energy.com. Hastings, United Kingdom. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d Jean Marie Takouleu (31 March 2019). "Mali: PowerPro will build Sikasso's 50 MW photovoltaic power plant". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ Google (12 September 2021). "Road Distance Between Bamako, Mali And Sikasso, Mali With Map" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ a b c Judy Bokao (16 April 2019). "Mali receives US $52m loan to build Sikasso solar PV plant". Construction Review Online. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ Patrick Mulyungi (14 August 2021). "Construction of Mali's Sikasso to Bamako electricity transmission line begins". Construction Review Online. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 12 September 2021.