The Mali Ministry of Agriculture Building is a public administration building in Bamako. Devpan supplied the main distribution, floor distribution, power factor correction and lighting panels.
Electrical Profile of the Project
- LocationBamako, Mali
- Building typeMunicipal building
- Installed power≈ 1,600 kVA
- Transformer configuration2 × 800 kVA
- Main busbar rated current2 × 1,250 A
- Short-time withstand current (Icw)50 kA / 1 s
- Devpan scopeLow voltage switchboards, engineering and site coordination
- Verification standardIEC 61439-1, IEC 61439-2
About the Project
A ministry building houses busy office floors, meeting halls, archives and the institution’s IT systems, so a power failure means an interruption to public services. In Bamako, high temperatures for most of the year drive up air-conditioning load, while both planned and unplanned outages can occur on the network. The building’s electrical infrastructure therefore has to carry a heavy cooling demand and keep critical functions running during a loss of supply.
For a government building of this scale, the typical arrangement is a 15 kV medium-voltage supply feeding approximately 2 × 800 kVA transformers and a two-section 2 × 1,250 A main distribution. The server room, security systems, emergency lighting and lifts are connected to a generator busbar, and a generator of around 630 kVA picks these loads up through automatic transfer. Sub-distribution boards on each floor and separate lighting panels allow maintenance and extensions without disturbing the rest of the building.
Devpan Scope and Switchboard Architecture
Devpan’s scope runs from the main low-voltage distribution to the floor boards, lighting and critical system supplies.
- Main distribution boards (DevPanel): typically 2 × 1,250 A, 50 kA / 1 s, Form 3b, with bus coupler and generator transfer.
- Sub-distribution boards (DevBox): floor, server room, meeting hall and plant room boards rated IP31 – IP41.
- Power factor correction (DevComp): automatic stepped compensation for air-conditioning and lift loads.
- Lighting and power panels (DevPower): time- and scene-controlled supplies for offices, corridors, façade and emergency lighting.
Technical Configuration
| Installed power | ≈ 1,600 kVA |
|---|---|
| Transformer configuration | 2 × 800 kVA |
| Medium voltage level | 15 kV |
| Low voltage / frequency | 400 / 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Main busbar rated current | 2 × 1,250 A |
| Short-time withstand current (Icw) | 50 kA / 1 s |
| Form of internal separation | Form 3b |
| Degree of protection (IP) | IP31 – IP41 |
| Generator back-up | 1 × 630 kVA |
| Verification standard | IEC 61439-1, IEC 61439-2 |
Devpan Products Used in This Project
Project-Specific Engineering Topics
Separating critical loads
Server room, security, lifts and emergency lighting are grouped on a dedicated generator busbar, so only these loads transfer to backup during an outage.
Cooling demand
Simultaneous operation of split and central air-conditioning is assessed with realistic diversity factors and derating in the design.
Energy efficiency
Time scheduling and zone control on lighting panels cut out-of-hours consumption, while compensation avoids reactive energy penalties.
Ease of maintenance
Floor-level sub-distribution means work in one area does not interrupt services on other floors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the installed power for a government building of the scale of the Mali Ministry of Agriculture?
For a public building of this scale the installed power is approximately 1,600 kVA, with a typical transformer configuration of 2 × 800 kVA. The main busbar is typically 2 × 1,250 A rated 50 kA / 1 s, supplied at 15 kV, with a generator of around 630 kVA for backup.
Which loads are fed from the generator in a ministry building?
Typically server and communication rooms, security and fire systems, lifts, emergency lighting and selected office areas are connected to the generator busbar.
Why use separate lighting panels in public buildings?
Supplying lighting from dedicated panels simplifies time-scheduled control and energy metering, and keeps power circuits unaffected during lighting maintenance.
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Bamako Solar PV PlantSolar power plant · Bamako, MaliDo you have a project of a similar scale?
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