- Ivory Coast and Kong Solaire have agreed to build a 50 MWp solar power plant near Kong.
- Under a public-private partnership, the project aims to supply over 97 GWh of electricity annually to 240,000 people.
- Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, Ivory Coast’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum, and Energy, highlighted the project’s role in tripling the nation’s electricity generation capacity by 2040.
Ivory Coast and Kong Solaire have signed a concession agreement to build a new 50 MWp solar power plant in the country’s northern region. The plant will be located near the historic town of Kong, which was destroyed by French colonial resister Samory Touré in 1857. This project is part of Ivory Coast’s efforts to expand its renewable energy capacity.
The solar plant will operate under a public-private partnership (PPP) and is expected to generate over 97 GWh of electricity annually. It will benefit around 240,000 people connected to the national grid in the northern region. The electricity generated will supply residential and commercial customers through a transmission line and substation near the site.
Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, Ivory Coast’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum, and Energy, has included this project in the country’s energy master plan up to 2040. The plan aims to triple Ivory Coast’s electricity generation capacity from 2,907 MW to 8,600 MW. Sangafowa-Coulibaly highlighted the project’s role in meeting the economy’s and households’ growing energy needs.
The construction of the Kong solar power plant requires an investment of 37 billion CFA francs (approximately 57.6 million euros). Kong Solaire’s shareholders, including Ivorian company Africa Via and InfraCo Africa, a London-based investment company part of the PIDG, will raise funds for the project.
The signing ceremony occurred in Abidjan, marking a significant milestone in Ivory Coast’s renewable energy development. The project follows a similar initiative for a 52 MWp solar power plant in Sokhoro, demonstrating the country’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions.