Côte d’Ivoire: more villages to be connected to the power grid

Authorities in Côte d’Ivoire have announced an ambitious project to extend the electricity network of the city of Soubré in the southwestern region.

The announcement was made by officials from Côte d’Ivoire-Energies; Compagnie ivoirienne d’électricité (CIE); and CEGELEC.

About 3,627 electricity poles will be installed together with 17 transformer stations and 133 km of power lines in the districts of the department.

“The city of Soubré has grown rapidly in such a way that today there is a great need to extend its electricity network. This is very good news,” said Traoré Lassina, Mayor of the city.

Sixty villages were connected to the 275 MW hydroelectric plant in Soubré in December, and a further 190 villages are to be connected this year.

The rural electrification program aims to strengthen the production and supply of electricity networks across the country. It will provide a stable supply of electricity to 252 villages in the Montagnes district.

The program is supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB), whose financial support is allowing electrification of 728 villages in total.

Built by SinoHydro, the Soubré dam inaugurated last year was financed in part by a loan from China’s Export-Import Bank. It features a 4.km long dam on the Sassandra River.

The project increases the country’s total capacity by approximately 10%.