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A first wind farm in Mali

Project

Signature date
Location
Mali
Financing tool
Grant
Financing amount (Euro)
250000
Financing details
EUR 250,000 grant
Customer
Rencore Energy Limited
Type of customer
Company
Country of headquarters
United Kingdom
Project number
PML1062
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This information is given at the time of signature, without prejudice to any developments in the operation/project.

Proparco has allocated a EUR 250,000 grant to Rencore Energy to finance its project to build the first wind farm in Mali.

Client presentation

Rencore Energy is a company based in London and specialized in the development of solar and wind power plants. The three founders of Rencore Energy have over 20 years of experience in wind energy.

Project description

Since 2016, Rencore Energy has been studying the installation of the country’s first wind farm, south of Kayes, in partnership with many public institutions in Mali. After signing a first Memorandum of Understanding with the Renewable Energy Agency of Mali (AER-Mali) in May 2017, Rencore Energy presented the results of their first feasibility study in January 2020. 

Following this meeting, Rencore Energy signed a second Memorandum of Understanding  with the Ministry of Energy and Water (MEE) in March 2020. Under this agreement, the Ministry undertakes to:

  • Ensure that the development of the project complies with the legislation in force on public-private partnerships and other texts governing the electricity sector in Mali 
  • Give the developers access to all the necessary information, in particular about the electricity sector and the available documentation, to allow them to prepare a project proposal under acceptable conditions 
  • Make the site for the installation of the project available to the company.

The wind farm developed by Rencore Energy will have a capacity of 150 MW (i.e. between 30 and 50 wind turbines) and will cover 50 ha on land on the hills.

Project impact

This wind resource should also reduce the use of thermal energy and be additional to the solar capacity which covers the midday peak. Following its commissioning in 2025/2026, the wind farm in Kayes should account for over 12% of power generation in Mali.

The project will have a positive impact for neighboring municipalities (Hawa Dembaya, Sadiola, Liberté Dembaya and Logo), which will benefit from funds for local activities (in particular from local taxes).  

Artélia has also conducted a preliminary environmental and social assessment which identifies three main points requiring attention: ensure there are no customary rights, ensure the project does not increase land pressure in the Kayes region, which has been expanding for several years, and ensure the dust generated during the construction phase has a minor impact on farmland.