The Senegal River: A new navigation project to support Mali's openness to foreign markets
The Senegal River opens new horizons for trade and transport in Mali
Written by: Mohammed Omran
Ministers of the Investment Organization discussed Senegal River (OMVS), during a meeting in the Malian capital Bamako, presented the Senegal River Navigation Project, which member states are counting on to boost regional transport and improve Mali's connection to foreign markets.
A new shipping project to support financial openness to foreign markets
The organization will hold its 64th extraordinary session of its Council of Ministers on June 20 and 21, where the meeting will discuss the status of the organization’s strategic projects, foremost among them the project to rehabilitate and develop the river navigation corridor between the city of Saint-Louis in Senegal and the city of Ambedidi in western Mali.
The Senegal River opens new horizons for trade and transport in Mali
The meeting comes at a time when Mali, a landlocked country, is seeking to diversify its access to regional and international markets and reduce its reliance on land transport networks, which face challenges related to cost and logistical conditions.
The Malian government said the meeting's agenda also includes governance of the organization's companies, maintenance of energy production and transmission facilities, as well as monitoring the implementation of joint projects in the areas of water, energy and transportation.
The navigation project extends over a distance of approximately 905 kilometers and aims to create a river corridor capable of transporting large quantities of goods annually, within a multimodal transport system that combines river, road, rail and port facilities.
The Senegal River Navigation Management and Operation Company (SOGENAV) is responsible for overseeing this aspect of the project, including preparing the navigation channel, securing the movement of ships between Saint-Louis and Ambidé, and developing river stopping points.
During the past period, the project witnessed preparatory work that included removing navigational obstacles, dredging parts of the waterway, and installing equipment to help secure navigation, in addition to preparing studies to develop a strategic vision extending until 2035.
The Senegal River Basin Development Organization (OMVS) is a framework for cooperation between Mali, Senegal, Mauritania and Guinea, and its activities have historically focused on energy and water projects, particularly the Manantali, Fello, Guina and Diama dams.
Officials believe that developing river navigation can help reduce transportation costs, support economic activity in riverine areas, and promote market integration in the West African region.
However, the success of the project remains linked to the provision of sustainable funding, ensuring the maintenance of the shipping lane, developing the accompanying infrastructure, and continuing coordination between the member states of the organization.
