Niafounké, Northern Mali: Healthcare Powered by Solar Energy

In the Timbuktu region of northern Mali, MSF has just equipped the Niafounké hospital with a new solar panel installation. This energy transition strengthens the hospital’s autonomy and ensures better continuity of care in an area that is both remote and affected by insecurity.

Until now, the hospital relied almost entirely on a diesel-powered thermal power plant, which was prone to frequent power outages. To maintain healthcare services, medical teams had to use a generator on a daily basis, at high cost and with limited reliability. The new photovoltaic solar installation now covers around 60% of the hospital’s energy needs, significantly reducing this dependence.

This energy transition makes it possible to substantially reduce expenses related to the generator, its maintenance, and the purchase of diesel, allowing more resources to be allocated to patient care,” says Souleymane Ouattara, Timbuktu project coordinator. 

“It ensures,” he continues, “the continuity of vital care such as the operation of oxygen concentrators in neonatology and pediatrics, surgical and obstetric emergencies, as well as power supply for the laboratory, ultrasound equipment, and the cold chain essential for blood transfusions.”

The installation has a capacity of 90 kWp, with a 210 kWh lithium battery storage system, complemented by an 80 kVA generator. This hybrid system allows the hospital to alternate between solar energy, the city’s power grid, and the generator, ensuring a continuous power supply both day and night.

For patients, this energy stability brings tangible improvements to daily life. Fadi, displaced from the village of Léré following threats from armed groups, found refuge in Niafounké with her children. She explains: “I fled with my children and my sister because armed men told everyone to leave the village. Today, I am accompanying my son, Ousmane, to the pediatric ward.” In a context of displacement and vulnerability, access to reliable healthcare remains essential.

This project is part of MSF’s Green Initiative, a strategy aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of our activities while improving operational efficiency. For several years, the organization has been deploying hybrid photovoltaic solar systems in various countries around the world, particularly in the Sahel, to limit dependence on diesel—an expensive and polluting energy source whose transport to remote areas is often complex.

Beyond environmental benefits, reduced energy costs make it possible to redirect financial resources toward medical care. Solar energy stabilizes the functioning of laboratories, cold rooms, and essential hospital services, thereby improving working conditions for teams and the quality of care provided to patients.

In an ongoing fragile humanitarian context, solar energy represents far more than a technical solution: it is a lever for autonomy, resilience, and hope for health facilities and the populations they serve. Through these initiatives, MSF combines humanitarian action, environmental responsibility, and a long-term commitment in the service of life.