Côte d’Ivoire launches energy pact steering committee to accelerate electrification

The steering committee for Côte d’Ivoire’s National Energy Pact convened its inaugural session on August 4, 2026, at the SCIAM building in Abidjan, chaired by the Minister of Planning and Development, Dr. Souleymane DIARRASSOUBA. Key participants included the Minister of Mines, Oil and Energy, Mr. Mamadou SANGAFOWA-COULIBALY, the Deputy Cabinet Director of the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Budget, the Deputy Cabinet Director of the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Technical Advisor to the Minister Director of the President’s Cabinet. The gathering focused on reinforcing the committee’s operational framework and aligning its strategic commitments.

The committee reviewed progress reports, validated milestones, and outlined plans for a high-level roundtable to secure funding for priority energy projects.

The National Energy Pact is part of the broader Mission 300 initiative—a joint effort by the World Bank and the African Development Bank aimed at connecting 300 million sub-Saharan Africans to electricity by 2030. Côte d’Ivoire adopted its pact in January 2025 and presented it at the Dar es Salaam Energy Summit in Tanzania, earning recognition as a model country by Mission 300 partners. Today, 29 African nations have established similar pacts. The Ivorian plan requires an estimated investment of 6.56 billion dollars—equivalent to 3,980 billion West African francs—between 2025 and 2030, with private sector contributions expected to cover 1,177 billion francs.

The governance structure includes a steering committee, a technical committee, and a dedicated coordination unit for the pact.

During the opening remarks, the Minister of Planning and Development outlined four core objectives of the pact: achieving universal electricity access, expanding clean cooking solutions for households, raising renewable energy’s share in the national grid to 45%, and ensuring the financial sustainability of the energy sector. He emphasized alignment with the National Development Plan and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 7, underscoring energy’s pivotal role in the nation’s economic and social progress.

The submitted progress report highlights significant strides toward the 2030 targets. In 2025 alone, Côte d’Ivoire connected 684,735 households—covering nearly 3.6 million people—surpassing its annual goal by 105.3%. Since 2024, the country has extended electricity access to 7.7 million citizens, with a national coverage rate now standing at 81.1% against a 2030 target of 17 million people.

Reforms and investments are advancing in lockstep. The 2026-2030 project portfolio includes priority initiatives valued at approximately 2,840 billion West African francs, currently under financing negotiations.

The committee also set clear deadlines for pending actions and committed to rigorous monitoring to ensure timely execution. This implementation leverages Côte d’Ivoire’s established regional leadership—its power system is among West Africa’s largest, and the country has long facilitated cross-border electricity trade. The pact’s projects will further integrate the nation into the emerging West African electricity market.