New solar project in Côte d'Ivoire

Côte d'Ivoire has begun building a 52 MWc solar power plant in Tongon, a town in the M'Bengué department in the north of the country. The facility is expected to provide electricity to 30,000 households and reduce CO₂ emissions by nearly 39,000 tons annually.

Project details and timeline

The solar plant will cover about 50 hectares and is scheduled to be completed by mid-2028. During its construction, the site will create nearly 500 jobs. The total cost of the project is estimated at 33 billion FCFA, or around 56.4 million dollars.

National solar expansion goals

Côte d'Ivoire's Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, stated that a dozen solar power plants are currently under construction across the country. The government aims to add 1262 MWc of solar capacity to the national grid by 2030, requiring significant financial support from private and international partners.

Energy strategy and funding needs

The Tongon project is part of Côte d'Ivoire's broader strategy to diversify its energy sources and increase the use of renewable energy. In January 2025, the government adopted a National Energy Pact, estimating that 6.56 billion dollars will be needed to expand access to electricity and raise the share of renewables to 45% of the energy mix by 2030.

Multiple solar projects underway

The Tongon solar plant follows the launch of the Katiola project, with additional solar initiatives either announced or under construction in several other towns, including Bondoukou, Tengréla, Kong, Sérébou, Touba, Laboua, Odienné, Niakara, Dabakala, Mankono, Soubré, and Ferkessédougou.