Photovoltaic panels on rooftops in Cote d Ivoire

The Ivory Coast's Ministry of Mines, Oil, and Energy has unveiled plans to build 12 solar plants with a total capacity of 678 MW. Image: Markus Spiske, Unsplash Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly, the Ivory Coast's Minister of Mines, Oil and Energy, has announced plans to install 678 MW of solar capacity by 2030 and 1,686 MW by 2040.

The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire is planning to build 12 photovoltaic solar plants with a combined capacity of 678 MW in different parts of the country by 2030. Likewise, the government plans to reach 1,686 MW by 2040.

In the northern region of the Côte d'Ivoire, the first phase of a solar power facility has been officially opened. The Boundiali solar power plant's financing was initially revealed in 2018, and details of its commissioning were made public in December 2022.

Work began on the second phase of the project at the same time, which will take the site's capacity to 80 MW. Construction will also soon begin on a 52 MW plant in the village of Sokhoro. The Ivory Coast aims to increase the share of renewables in its energy mix to 45% by 2030.

The 37.5 MW plant — which is being described as the nation's first significant solar array — will supply electricity to Compagnie Ivoirienne d'Electricité, the nation's utility. At the solar plant, the second phase of work has begun and is anticipated to be finished by April 2025.

The goal for the Ivorian State is to achieve a share of so-called clean energies estimated at 45% in the national energy mix by 2030, compared to 30% today. Finally, this project will eventually prevent more than 70,000 tons per year of carbon dioxide emissions, thereby improving the country's carbon footprint.