U.S. Trade and Development Agency
1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600 * Arlington, Virginia 22209
Telephone (703) 875-4357 * Fax (703) 875-4009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Donna Thiessen
(703) 875-4357
USTDA GRANT FUNDS STUDY OF
PROPOSED HYDROPOWER PLANT IN MALI
U.S. Ambassador to Mali Terence P. McCulley (left) and Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Ahmed Diane Semega (right) sign the USTDA grant agreement for the feasibility study on the Markala Hydropower Project in Mali.
BAMAKO, MALI – (September 27, 2005) Increasing Mali’s energy production in support of the country’s economic growth and development is the goal of a U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) grant awarded today to the Malian Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water. The $272,956 grant will be used to conduct a study on the proposed Markala Hydropower Project.
A signing ceremony to officially confer the grant was held at the U.S. Embassy in Bamako. U.S. Ambassador to Mali Terence P. McCulley and Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Ahmed Diane Semega signed the grant agreement on behalf of the U.S. and Malian governments, respectively.
By some 2004 estimates, 13 percent of Mali’s general population, and less than one percent of its rural population, has access to electricity. Despite the country’s enormous potential for renewable energy (particularly hydropower), Mali continues to import petroleum products to meet its energy needs. In order to help Mali diversify its energy portfolio, the USTDA grant awarded today will be used to conduct a study on the feasibility of constructing a 13 megawatt hydropower facility about 50 kilometers north of Ségou on the Niger River.
The opportunity to conduct the study under the grant awarded today will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities website at www.fedbizopps.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions contained in the Federal Business Opportunities announcement. The Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water will select the U.S. contractor that will provide the training.
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, feasibility studies, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment. USTDA’s strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development. In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.
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