Ivory Coast accelerates energy transition with national pact steering committee
The Steering Committee of the Ivorian National Energy Pact (PNE) convened its inaugural session on August 4, 2026, at the SCIAM building in Abidjan. Chaired by Dr. Souleymane DIARRASSOUBA, Minister of Planning and Development, the meeting brought together key officials including the Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou SANGAFOWA-COULIBALY, senior cabinet directors, and the President’s economic advisor. The gathering marked a pivotal step in operationalizing the PNE and aligning its strategic priorities.
The committee reviewed progress on the pact’s implementation, confirming milestones achieved and greenlighting a roundtable to secure funding for high-priority energy projects. These initiatives are critical to Ivory Coast’s broader commitment to the Mission 300 initiative, a joint campaign by the World Bank and African Development Bank aiming to provide electricity to 300 million sub-Saharan Africans by 2030. Ivory Coast was selected as a model country for this initiative, having adopted its PNE in January 2025 during the African Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. To date, 29 African nations have established similar national energy compacts.
Funding and governance: driving Ivory Coast’s energy future
The PNE’s total investment envelope for 2025–2030 is estimated at 6.56 billion US dollars, equivalent to roughly 3,980 billion West African CFA francs. Public and private sector contributions are projected at 1,177 billion CFA francs. The governance structure includes a steering committee, a technical committee, and a dedicated coordination unit to ensure seamless execution.
At the meeting, Dr. DIARRASSOUBA outlined the pact’s four core objectives: achieving universal electricity access, expanding clean cooking solutions for households, increasing renewable energy to 45% of the national energy mix, and ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the energy sector. He emphasized the alignment of the PNE with Ivory Coast’s National Development Plan and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7, underscoring energy as a cornerstone of the nation’s economic and social advancement.
Progress toward 2030 targets: milestones and momentum
Updated progress reports presented to the committee reveal significant strides toward the 2030 targets. In 2025 alone, Ivory Coast connected 684,735 households—nearly 3.6 million people—to the grid, surpassing its annual target by 5.3%. Since 2024, the country has extended electricity access to 7.7 million citizens, inching closer to its goal of 17 million by 2030. The national electrification rate now stands at 81.1%.
The committee also reviewed a portfolio of 2026–2030 priority projects valued at approximately 2,840 billion CFA francs. These projects are currently in the funding mobilization phase, with strict timelines set to ensure timely execution.
Regional integration: Ivory Coast’s role in West African energy
Ivory Coast’s energy sector is a regional leader, boasting one of West Africa’s most robust electricity systems. The country has long played a central role in cross-border electricity trade and continues to strengthen its position within the West African Power Pool. Projects outlined in the PNE are designed to deepen this integration, fostering a unified and resilient regional energy market.
