Mali: in Gao, electricity is returning little by little
The largest city in the North, with nearly 370,000 inhabitants, had been completely without power since March 8, almost two weeks ago, due to a major technical incident on the infrastructure of EDM, the national electricity company. 'electricity. But since the evening of March 20, 2024, the situation is slowly improving.
Aerial view of Gao in November 2019 (Illustrative image). © Souleymane AG ANARA / AFP
By: David Baché
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“
Electricity suddenly came to my house around 4:30 p.m. She left at 7:35 p.m.
» This resident of Gao, as surprised as he is relieved, is now waiting to see what the hours and days to come have in store.
Requested by RFI, neither the Gao management of Énergie du Mali (EDM), nor the municipality, nor the governorate, responded, but according to information cross-checked from several local sources, technicians are working hard -foot both to repair the old EDM generators and put the new ones, received at the end of December, into operation.
Tranche distribution program
A distribution program in installments – twice four hours, or eight hours per day –, alternating between neighborhoods, has been established. If it is respected, the electricity distribution will be even better than before the general blackout two weeks ago. The inhabitants of Gao were then satisfied with three to four hours of electricity per day.
“
At my house, the power came on at noon, but it left again at 1 p.m.
,” says another resident. However, everyone contacted in the city is already delighted with the improvement observed.
Read alsoMali: the city of Gao completely deprived of electricity for a week
After twelve days of total outage, the gradual return of electricity will ease the daily lives of residents, during this period of Lent and intense heat. It will also allow the resumption of many economic activities, particularly among small traders and craftsmen who do not have solar panels or individual generators. “
It’s important for welders or for women who sell ice and juice
,
and even in offices,”
notes a notable person from Gao.
With this general cut, we felt the absence of the minimum that existed before
.”
Residents now hope that these few hours of restored electricity are the start of a real dynamic: “
We would like to have electricity all day, but it's a good start if it lasts.
»
Redeveloped market
Other good news: at the beginning of February, the central market of Gao was ravaged by an accidental fire. Traders were finally able to reinvest it, at the start of the Ramadan period, around ten days ago. According to the traders contacted by RFI, the site was temporarily redeveloped by the town hall. While waiting for more solid repairs, expected within three to four months, activities were able to resume. “
We have found our places again
,” says a trader.
We hope that they will quickly repair everything, but they have already supported us and we thank them for that
.”
Read alsoMali: the central market of Gao ravaged by fire
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