The project consists of a regional power interconnection line of about 800 kilometres linking Tumu, northern Ghana, Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina) and Sikasso/Bamako (Mali). As other West African Power Pool (WAPP) power transmission projects, it aims at (i) providing people with more available, reliable and affordable energy, as well as more sustainable, in a region where less than 20% of people have an access to energy; and at (ii) contributing to the creation over the medium and long term of a regional network and market for energy in West Africa, thereby allowing for power exchanges between the coastal countries (such as Ghana) that have access to cheaper energy resources (hydropower and thermal) than the landlocked sahelian countries (such as Burkina and Mali).
As at 31 December 2018, the project is still under preparation phase.
The TA grant will be used to complete the project preparation documentation, to address technical, environmental, economic and financial as well as commercial/tariff issues, and to prepare the procurement work for the project. As at June 2015, the studies are ongoing. In September 2017, some addendums are under discussion (specifically calendar & deliveries) for defining the final scope of the E&S study (environmental & social). As at 31 December 2018, the feasibility studies need to be relaunched.