Niger has announced plans to deliver 150 million litres of diesel to supply power stations in neighbouring Mali, as Mali grapples with frequent electricity outages, according to a statement from Mali’s presidency on Tuesday.
With only around 11 million people, roughly half of the population, having access to electricity in Mali, the nation has faced challenges in ensuring consistent power supply, particularly since a military coup in 2020.
The national energy company, EDM-SA, is struggling with over 200 billion CFA francs ($330 million) in debt, resulting in difficulties in maintaining electricity supply in the capital city of Bamako and other towns across Mali.
Colonel Assimi Goita, the head of Mali’s junta, held discussions on Tuesday with Niger’s oil minister, Mahaman Moustapha Barke, to finalize a partnership agreement for the sale of 150 million litres of diesel to Mali, as stated by the Malian presidency.
Barke, quoted in the statement, explained that the fuel would be allocated to Energie du Mali (EDM-SA) to support various power stations across the country.
In February, Niger disclosed the signing of a memorandum of understanding regarding diesel supply to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Chad, nations categorized among the world’s poorest and governed by military regimes.
Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali have formed an Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and announced their departure from the West African bloc ECOWAS in February.
Moreover, Nigerien authorities inaugurated a significant pipeline in November, intended to transport crude oil extracted from the Agadem oil field in the southeastern region to neighbouring Benin.
The oil extraction is conducted by the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), a Chinese state-owned entity.
Recently, authorities in Niger announced on April 13 that they secured a $400 million loan from their Chinese partner as an “advance” for the upcoming sale of crude oil, slated to commence in May.
The country aims to boost its oil production to 110,000 barrels per day, with 90,000 barrels earmarked for export.
