FRES MALI
FRES Mali (Yeelen Kura) is a rural solar energy services provider serving 9,346 households, businesses, and institutions across Sikasso, Ségou, and Koutiala regions via Solar Home Systems, minigrids, and nanogrids, distributed through 20 Energy Stores. A subsidiary of Dutch foundation FRES, with ownership transferring to local group YEELEN BARA in February 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersSikasso, Mali
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What FRES MALI does
FRES Mali, operating under the Yeelen Kura brand, is a rural solar energy services company founded in 2001 and headquartered in Sikasso, Mali. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Foundation Rural Energy Services (FRES), a Dutch public benefit organization (ANBI) based in Amsterdam. The company serves households, businesses, and institutions in the Sikasso, Ségou, and Koutiala regions of Mali through a portfolio of solar products: Solar Home Systems (4,025 deployed), village-scale minigrids serving approximately 300 customers each (14 operational), nanogrids connecting up to eight nearby households or businesses (5 operational), and solar water pumping systems (2 installed), for a total installed capacity of 1,420 kWp and a customer base of 9,346 across 63 employees.
The company's technology is conventional PV-based off-grid electrification: standalone home systems for individual premises, minigrids that distribute centrally generated solar power across an entire village, and nanogrids that bridge the two with smaller shared networks. Underlying revenue mechanics split between hardware sales (Solar Home Systems, Solar Water Pumping) and subscription/recurring tariffs on minigrid and nanogrid services. Distribution is direct-to-customer through 20 Energy Stores that handle sales, installation, and after-sales support across the three regions.
On February 19, 2026, FRES signed a share transfer agreement with YEELEN BARA, a Malian Economic Interest Group, divesting 100% ownership of the Mali entity — a structural change that transfers control to a local owner while the operating model, brand, and service territory appear set to continue. Capital historically has come from a mix of parent-foundation support and concessional development finance, including EuropeAid funding for the Béléko minigrid brought online in 2020.
FRES MALI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FRES MALI
- Legal name
- Yeelen Kura - FRES Mali
- Website
- https://fresmali.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- FRES Mali (Yeelen Kura) is a rural solar energy services provider serving 9,346 households, businesses, and institutions across Sikasso, Ségou, and Koutiala regions via Solar Home Systems, minigrids, and nanogrids, distributed through 20 Energy Stores. A subsidiary of Dutch foundation FRES, with ownership transferring to local group YEELEN BARA in February 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FRES MALI industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Rural Solar Energy Services
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- SIC
- Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD)
Keywords
Where FRES MALI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sikasso
- HQ country
- Mali
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
FRES MALI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Solar Home Systems: Sale and service of individual solar electricity systems to households
- Minigrid Services: Electricity generation and distribution through village-scale solar minigrids serving approximately 300 customers each
- Nanogrid Services: Small-scale solar networks connecting nearby households and businesses
- Solar Water Pumping: Solar-powered water pumping solutions for agricultural and domestic use
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
FRES MALI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FRES Mali (Yeelen Kura) sells and services distributed solar electricity solutions to households, businesses, and institutions in rural Mali. Its portfolio includes individual Solar Home Systems, village-scale solar Minigrids serving approximately 300 customers each, small-scale Nanogrids connecting up to eight nearby households and businesses, and Solar Water Pumping systems. Distribution and after-sales service are delivered through a network of 20 Energy Stores located across the Sikasso, Ségou, and Koutiala regions.
Product overview
FRES Mali operates under the Yeelen Kura brand as a solar energy service provider offering a portfolio of solar electricity solutions. The product suite includes Solar Home Systems for individual households, Mini Grids serving 300+ customers per village, Nano Grids connecting up to eight closely located households/businesses, and Solar Water Pumping systems. All products deliver affordable, premium quality solar electricity to households, businesses, and institutions in the Sikasso, Ségou, and Koutiala regions of Mali. The company maintains 20 Energy Stores and has deployed 4025 solar home systems, 14 mini grids, 5 nano grids, and 2 solar water pumping installations, with a total installed capacity of 1420 kWp.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Solar Home Systems Individual solar electricity systems for residential households, providing affordable solar electricity of premium quality. Served through 20 Energy Stores across Sikasso, Ségou, and Koutiala regions.
- Mini Grids Solar-powered mini grid networks serving multiple households and businesses in rural villages, each providing centralized electricity distribution to approximately 300 customers per village.
- Nano Grids Small solar networks connecting up to eight closely located households and businesses, providing localized electricity access in rural areas.
- Solar Water Pumping Solar-powered water pumping systems providing clean water access to rural communities for agricultural and domestic use.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1223 tCO2/yr CO2 savings
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use FRES MALI
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
FRES MALI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
FRES MALI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
FRES MALI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- M-KOPA Solar: Kenya-headquartered pay-as-you-go solar home systems leader operating across East and West Africa. Directly comparable in product category (SHS + pico-solar), customer base (off-grid households), and PAYG revenue model.
- Sun King (Greenlight Planet): Global pay-as-you-go solar provider with strong African distribution selling solar home systems to off-grid households. Directly competes with FRES Mali's SHS product line for similar rural customers.
- PowerGen Renewable Energy: Pan-African minigrid developer and operator focused on East Africa with a similar renewable-energy utility model serving rural communities. Closely comparable in minigrid technology and community-scale generation model.
- BBOXX: UK-headquartered distributed solar energy company with deep operations in East and Central Africa, offering pay-as-you-go solar home systems and increasingly minigrid solutions. Closely comparable product offering, customer type, and PAYG financing model.
- Zola Electric: Tanzania-rooted pay-as-you-go solar home systems provider serving rural sub-Saharan Africa with a comparable product suite of SHS, minigrids, and storage. Closely comparable to FRES Mali on customer base, business model, and frontier-market operating environment.
- d.light: Solar home system and pico-solar provider serving tens of millions of customers across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Direct competitor in the same SHS category serving rural off-grid households.
Emerging players
- SolarArise: Pan-African pay-as-you-go solar company offering solar home systems and productive-use appliances in West Africa, including Mali and neighboring markets. Competes for the same rural customer segment with a comparable product mix.
- Husk Power Systems: Minigrid operator serving rural customers in Nigeria and South Asia. Comparable in technology (solar/hybrid minigrids) and rural customer base, though focused on different geographies.
Broad incumbents
- Engie Energy Access: Subsidiary of European utility Engie delivering off-grid solar and mini-grids across multiple African countries. Larger and better-capitalized competitor with overlapping distributed-solar offerings and minigrid operations in West Africa.
- Fenix International (Engie): PAYGO solar home systems provider across multiple African markets, now part of Engie. Comparable SHS business model and customer base, though broader geographic scope.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
FRES MALI social profiles
Digital presenceFRES MALI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FRES MALI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
FRES MALI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FRES MALI M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FRES MALI
What does FRES MALI do?
FRES Mali (Yeelen Kura) sells and services distributed solar electricity solutions to households, businesses, and institutions in rural Mali. Its portfolio includes individual Solar Home Systems, village-scale solar Minigrids serving approximately 300 customers each, small-scale Nanogrids connecting up to eight nearby households and businesses, and Solar Water Pumping systems. Distribution and after-sales service are delivered through a network of 20 Energy Stores located across the Sikasso, Ségou, and Koutiala regions.
Is FRES MALI a public or private company?
FRES MALI is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was FRES MALI founded?
FRES MALI was founded in 2001. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is FRES MALI based?
FRES MALI is headquartered in Sikasso, Mali, in the Africa region.
How does FRES MALI make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Solar Home Systems are the primary driver. The others are minigrid Services, nanogrid Services and solar Water Pumping.
Who are FRES MALI's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are M-KOPA Solar, Sun King (Greenlight Planet), PowerGen Renewable Energy, BBOXX, Zola Electric and d.light. Emerging players are SolarArise and Husk Power Systems. Broad incumbents are Engie Energy Access and Fenix International (Engie).
Does FRES MALI have an API?
No public API is recorded for FRES MALI.
What industry is FRES MALI in?
FRES MALI's product category is Rural Solar Energy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUACALAJ, Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro), with a secondary code of EUAMAJAD, Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind. Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4991.