Kalpataru Power Transmission has recently started work on a major power transmission line in West African country, Mali, according to reliable reports.
The 225kV double-circuit line covering a distance of 398 km will link the cities of Sikasso, Bougouni, Sanankoroba and the capital city of Bamako. Construction work, which started on October 23, 2020, is expected to continue for 24 months.
Kalpataru Power Transmission was selected following a tendering process involving only Indian companies, as the project has EXIM Bank of India as the lead financier. EXIM Bank of India would be providing concessional credit facilities under the Government’s Indian Development Assistance Scheme (IDEAS). This scheme provides concessional financing for projects and contributes to infrastructure development and capacity building in the recipient developing countries.
The project comprises the following major components:
- 225kV double circuit line from Sikasso to Bougouni (199 km)
- 225kV double circuit line from Bougouni to Sanankoroba (153 km)
- 225kV double circuit line from Sanankoroba to Kodialani (30 km) and from Sanankoroba to Dialakorobougou (45 km)
- Extension of 225kV Sikasso and Kodialani substations
- New 225/33/15 kV substations at Bougouni and Sanankoraba
- Connecting line between Dialakorobougou and Sanankoroba
- Connecting localities of Bougouni, Zantiebougou, Koumantou, Kolondieba, Sido, Keleya and Niena
Promoted by the Ministry of Energy and Water, Mali, the new transmission line is expected to augment the country’s power transmission network capacity. It will help reduce load-shedding, especially during the hot summer months, in Bamako and other beneficiary cities. The new high-voltage link will also form the basis of electrification of over 100 villages, apart from being the backbone for electricity exchange between Mali and neighbouring countries like Ghana and Burkina Faso.
The Mali government will finance the project cost of 80.7 billion CFA francs (around Rs.1,050 crore or $144 million) through several loans. EXIM Bank of India has allocated 50 billion CFA francs while ECOWAS Bank Investment & Development (EBID) has lent 25 billion CFA francs. The State of Mali will be contributing 5.7 billion CFA francs towards the project. EBID is the financial institution established by the 15 member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Featured photograph (source: World Bank) shows a power transmission line in Mali
