For several weeks, Malians have been facing increasing difficulties due to load shedding and untimely power cuts as the hot season has begun and temperatures reach around 40 degrees.
The population significantly expresses their discontent with the power cuts due to the discomfort and problems it causes in their activities. This year, Malians consider the situation to be exceptional as Abdul Wahab Diakité, acting president of the Consumers Association of Mali (Ascoma), states that the situation is worse than usual and it is happening in practically every major city in Mali, for several hours a day.
“And this affects all areas, he says: health, shops, convenience stores when they buy necessities, for example, milk, the trader cannot keep it because of the cuts. The people cannot suffer like this.”
It takes investment
Abdul Wahab Diakité calls on the transitional Malian authorities to initiate a process to clear the debts of the company Énergie du Mali (EDM), clean up finances, and support the development of the national electricity supply company. He also urges them to conduct an institutional and financial audit of the structure that manages electricity in Mali, the EDM, and take advantage of Mali’s natural potential, including solar energy, as Mali has a renewable energy agency. Diakité questions why Mali is still basing its electricity on thermal and calls on the authorities to have a vision for the country.
Internal governance, dilapidated power plants, pricing, and supply policy, the levers for action are numerous. In the meantime, Malians live and work to the rhythm of load shedding.