Territorial Diagnosis of Electricity Accessibility through Electrification Services in Mali

Access to electricity in Mali remains one of the lowest in the world, with a national rate of 51% marked by significant disparities between urban and rural areas. This study assesses the territorial distribution of electricity coverage provided by national electrification services. The methodology is based on the use of geographic information systems combined with multi-criteria decision support analysis to identify the localities concerned. The data used includes municipal demographic statistics, national energy data, the number of low-voltage subscribers, the population served by locality, and municipal boundaries from geospatial databases. This information was used to assess the territorial distribution of electricity coverage rates. The analysis reveals low penetration of energy services nationwide. Of the 703 municipalities surveyed, only 268 are served, representing a rate of 38% (22% by EDM and 16% by AMADER). Furthermore, when the calculation is based solely on the population that actually has access to electricity in the areas served, the rate drops to 26%. This discrepancy is mainly due to a difference in calculation methods. This significant disparity, confirmed by both official figures and the study’s results, reflects the concentration of electrical infrastructure in urban areas, to the detriment of rural areas that are still largely uncovered, but also differences in calculation methods. The very low rate of access in rural areas highlights the urgent need for decision-makers to promote decentralized systems, particularly solar solutions, as a strategic alternative to accelerate rural electrification.