By Faridat Salifu
At a Council of Ministers meeting, the Ivorian government greenlit a comprehensive socio-economic development strategy for the eastern region of the country, emphasizing sustainability.
A focal point of this initiative is the adoption of photovoltaic solar energy to power households and businesses in the targeted area.
Ivory Coast is strategically prioritizing sustainability within its development agenda. Currently, the nation hosts several renewable energy endeavors aimed at reducing reliance on fossil fuels, particularly gas, which presently accounts for over 73% of its electricity generation.
The newly approved policy for the east underscores a shift towards sustainable practices, including the establishment of a new photovoltaic solar power plant.
During the aforementioned Council of Ministers session, which held recently, the Ivorian government endorsed a loan exceeding 33 billion CFA francs (approximately 50 million euros) from the German development agency, Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), to support the implementation of the sustainable development project in eastern Ivory Coast. This funding will primarily facilitate the construction of a photovoltaic solar power plant in Sérebou.
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With a capacity of 25 MWp, the forthcoming solar facility near Bondoukou aims to enhance Ivory Coast’s energy portfolio by favoring low-carbon alternatives, expanding electricity access in the towns of the Iffou region, and modernizing telecommunication and transmission infrastructure in the area, as articulated by Amadou Coulibaly, a government spokesperson.
Further advancing the country’s renewable energy goals, another photovoltaic solar power plant is slated for construction in eastern Ivory Coast through a public-private partnership.
Amea Power, an Emirati firm, will invest €56 million in a 50 MWp solar project in Bondoukou. This plant, operating under a 25-year agreement, will be integrated into the grid managed by the Compagnie ivoirienne d’électricité (CIE).
In addition to enhancing energy diversity, these initiatives are poised to augment Ivory Coast’s installed capacity.
In 2022, the country boasted an installed capacity of 2,229 MW, with hydroelectric power contributing 27% of the total.
The government aims to elevate the share of renewable sources in its electricity production to 42% by 2030, reflecting its commitment to sustainable development.
