In Mali, a fire engulfed the Malian Textile Development Company (CMDT) factory in the Bamako industrial zone, destroying 1,026 cotton bales worth an estimated 250 million CFA francs (around $415,000). The incident occurred during the night of March 8-9, 2025.
Authorities confirmed that the cotton bales were fully insured, allowing CMDT to recover the financial losses. Following the incident, the Minister of Agriculture led a delegation to assess the damage and recommend measures to prevent future incidents.
The proposed actions include:
- Demarcating the factory’s boundaries and evacuating illegal occupants nearby
- Reconstructing the perimeter wall to meet safety standards
- Installing additional fire hydrants for quicker response to emergencies
- Strengthening overall site security
CMDT’s existing fire safety system includes multiple hydrants, booster pumps connected to a 260 m³ water reserve, and 24-hour surveillance.
The fire comes at a challenging time for Mali’s cotton sector, which is experiencing a 17% drop in production for the 2024/2025 season due to unfavorable weather conditions, including localized flooding. Despite this, CMDT has secured $240 million in funding to stabilize the sector and ensure continued operations.