Ivory Coast inks PPP for solar energy project

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Ivory Coast inks PPP for solar energy project

Ivory Coast has entered a significant concession agreement with Kong Solaire to construct a 50 MWp solar power plant near the historic town of Kong, located in the northern part of the country.

This plant is part of a public-private partnership (PPP) and aims to deliver over 97 GWh of clean electricity annually, serving approximately 240,000 people in the region. The 50 MWp solar power plant will be built near Kong, a town with historical significance, having been destroyed by French colonial resister Samory Touré in 1857. The plant will be connected to a nearby transmission line and substation, providing electricity to both residential and commercial users connected to the national grid.

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Boosting renewable energy

The project requires an investment of over US $62M which will be raised by Kong Solaire’s shareholders: Africa Via, an Ivorian company, and InfraCo Africa, part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) based in London, UK.

This initiative follows the Ivorian government’s recent concession agreement for another 52 MWp solar power plant in Sokhoro, indicating a broader strategy to enhance renewable energy infrastructure in the country. These projects reflect Ivory Coast’s commitment to sustainable energy development and its efforts to meet the increasing electricity needs of its population.

Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, Ivory Coast’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum, and Energy, emphasized that this project aligns with the country’s master plan for the electricity sector up to 2040. The plan aims to increase the electricity generation capacity from the current 2,907 MW to 8,600 MW, ensuring that supply meets the growing demands of both the economy and households.