Côte d’Ivoire to unveil first solar energy plant

Côte d’Ivoire is set to inaugurate its solar energy plant, the country’s energy Director announced Thursday, adding that over 7,000 green energy projects are being developed.

“After having experimented fossil fuels and hydroelectricity, Côte d’Ivoire, which is rich in renewable energy potential, is about to commission its first solar power plant, marking its intention to vary its energy mix as much as possible,” said Noumory Sidibé, the Director General of CI-Energies, the country’s energy company.

Sidibe did not provide further details on the launch date.

The plant is located in the town Boundiali, north of the country. With an estimated capacity of 37.5 MWp, the infrastructure will produce clean electricity for about 30,000 households, avoid the emission of 27,000 tons of CO2 and contribute to the creation of 300 jobs in the region.

The project’s construction required €40 million. It was co-funded by a concessional loan of $27.5 million by KFW (the German development bank), and a €9.7 million grant from the European Union. Côte d’Ivoire contributed the rest of the needed amount.

The financing agreement was signed in 2018. The project is part of the “Compact with Africa” program, an initiative launched in March 2017 by the G20 countries under the German presidency.

The program seeks to promote private investment in the development of renewable energy in Africa.

CI-Energies boss however indicated that the West African country has decided to become an energy hub in the region. Over 7,000 green energy projects are being developed with around $4 billion of investment.

Côte d’Ivoire launched in 2018 its National Renewable Energy Action Plan (Paner). The ambitious plan sets a target of 42% renewable energy in the country’s energy mix by 2030.