The Ivorian government has taken another giant step toward “renewing” its electricity grid by approving a concession agreement with Swiss energy firm JC Mont-Fort to develop a 50MW solar photovoltaic power plant in Katiola, located in the Hambol region.
The approval for the project was given during the country’s cabinet meeting on May 21, sealing the solar agreement that was formalized on December 2, 2024, during the International Exhibition for Extractive and Energy Resources in Abidjan.
The project, valued at CFA 34.72 billion (~$60 million), will be executed by Katiola Solar Power, a subsidiary of JC Mont-Fort (Swiss).
The solar facility will be constructed under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model, meaning it is entirely financed by Katiola Solar Power through a public-private partnership.
The concession is for 25 years.
It will be situated on a 60-hectare site and when completed will comprise 89,208 polycrystalline solar panels, each with a capacity of 560 Wc, totaling an installed capacity of 49.96 MW.
These panels will be connected to 207 inverters, each rated at 200 kW, delivering a net power output of 41.4 MW to the national grid.
The project is scheduled for commissioning in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Construction is expected to create approximately 160 direct jobs and 30 permanent positions when commissioned.
Once operational, the plant is projected to generate 72,921 MWh annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 4,750 tonnes per year.
In its Production-Transport Master Plan (2022-2040), Ivory Coast aims to improve its electricity capacity from 2.9GW to 5.2GW by 2030, and 8.6GW by 2040.
The government has also set an ambitious target of making renewable energy 45% of the national energy mix by 2030, with solar energy expected to contribute 8%.
The 50MW Katiola solar project is part of this broader strategy to diversify Ivory Coast’s energy sources, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and lead the export of electricity in the West African region.
There are also other ongoing solar projects in the country, including the 52.42MWc FERKE solar plant and the 50MW Bondoukou solar projects.
However, Minister of Mines, Petroleum, and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly has stressed the importance of adhering to project timelines to ensure these plants are commissioned as of when due.
The government is committed to supporting these projects and facilitating interactions with relevant administrative departments, the Minister affirmed.
1 CFA = 0.0017 US dollars