This international competition organized by Construction 21 aims to highlight a number of trends representing what is going on in the world of building and urban development, because the time to mobilize against the climate emergency has undeniably come.

192 candidates from 37 different countries entered the competition and 22 sustainable projects which “inspire the profession” received awards on 4 November at the ceremony held at the start of the Batimat salon.

Geres was singled out in the “Low Carbon” category for its Electrified Business Park Project (EBP) in Konséguéla, Mali. Marie-Noëlle Reboulet, president of Geres, was there to receive the award.

This innovative project aims to meet the energy needs of Very Small Enterprises in rural municipalities of Mali.

It was carried out in partnership with the Association Malienne pour l’Eveil au Développement Durable (AMEDD), the National State Agencies (AMADER, ANADEB and AER) and other technical partners such as the architect Mathieu Hardy and the Voûte Nubienne Association.

In Konséguéla, this first EBP provides inhabitants of the municipality and surrounding villages with new products and services which used to be expensive or unavailable.

The infrastructure is able to host up to 15 trade and service activities (modern bakery, joinery workshop, oil mill, IT service centre, refrigeration/freezing service, soap-making, nutritional flour manufacturing unit, community radio) and receive customers on site. This initiative contributes to the economic and social development and stability of rural territories in Mali.

The model is currently being replicated in the regions of Sikasso, Ségou and Kayes.