By Faridat Salifu
The government of Ivory Coast in a new development has taken a significant step toward enhancing its renewable energy capacity by signing a concession agreement with Kong Solaire for the construction of a 50 MWp solar power plant in the northern part of the country.
This new solar facility will be built near the historic town of Kong, which was famously destroyed by French colonial resister Samory Touré in 1857.
The project aims to power Kong and surrounding communities with clean solar energy, supplying more than 97 GWh annually to approximately 240,000 residents and businesses connected to the national grid.
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The construction of the Kong solar power plant, executed under a public-private partnership (PPP), involves an investment of 37 billion CFA francs (about 57.6 million euros). The necessary funds will be raised by Kong Solaire’s shareholders, Africa Via, an Ivorian company, and InfraCo Africa, a London-based investment company under the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG).
Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, Ivory Coast’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum, and Energy, said the government has included the project in the nation’s electricity sector master plan, which aims to triple the country’s electricity generation capacity from 2,907 MW to 8,600 MW by 2040. This ambitious plan, according to him, is designed to meet the growing energy needs of the economy and households.
The project in Kong is part of a broader initiative to increase the country’s renewable energy portfolio, it was learnt. Just a few months ago, the Ivorian government signed a concession agreement for another 52 MWp solar power plant in Sokhoro, in the Ferkessédougou division.
Minkaïla Salami, CEO of Africa Via, expressed pride in the progress made with this initial 50 MWp photovoltaic project in the Tchologo region, underscoring the commitment to sustainable energy development in Ivory Coast.
As the country continues to advance its renewable energy agenda, these projects are set to play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions and providing reliable electricity to its growing population.
