Côte d’Ivoire accelerates energy pact with national governance structure

New governance framework launched to drive Côte d’Ivoire’s energy ambitions

Côte d’Ivoire has taken a decisive step toward achieving its energy transformation goals with the inaugural meeting of the National Energy Compact steering committee. Held on August 4, 2026, at the SCIAM building in Abidjan, the session brought together key decision-makers including Dr. Souleymane DIARRASSOUBA, Minister of Planning and Development, alongside the Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mr. Mamadou SANGAFOWA-COULIBALY, and senior government officials.

Aligning national priorities with regional energy goals

The meeting focused on reviewing progress and setting the stage for critical resource mobilization through a planned roundtable discussion. This initiative is part of the Mission 300 initiative, a joint effort by the World Bank and African Development Bank to bring electricity to 300 million people across Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. Côte d’Ivoire was selected as a model country for this program and officially adopted its National Energy Compact in January 2025 during the Dar es Salaam African Heads of State Energy Summit.

The Compact outlines a comprehensive investment plan valued at $6.56 billion (approximately 3,980 billion West African CFA francs) for 2025-2030, with 1,177 billion CFA francs expected from private sector contributions. The governance structure includes a steering committee, technical committee, and coordination cell to ensure effective implementation.

Four key pillars guiding the energy transition

At the opening of the session, Minister DIARRASSOUBA outlined the Compact’s four fundamental objectives: achieving universal electricity access, providing clean cooking solutions for households, increasing renewable energy to 45% of the energy mix, and ensuring financial sustainability of the energy sector. He emphasized the alignment of these goals with both the National Development Plan and the UN’s seventh Sustainable Development Goal, highlighting energy’s critical role in the country’s socioeconomic advancement.

Measurable progress toward 2030 targets

The presented progress report revealed encouraging results in electrification efforts. In 2025 alone, Côte d’Ivoire successfully connected 684,735 households—nearly 3.6 million people—exceeding its annual target by 105.3%. Since 2024, the country has brought electricity to 7.7 million additional citizens, with a national electrification rate now standing at 81.1% against a 2030 target of 17 million people.

Investment portfolio and regional integration

The steering committee validated a new investment portfolio totaling approximately 2,840 billion West African CFA francs for projects spanning 2026-2030. These initiatives are currently in the financing mobilization phase while the committee establishes strict timelines for their execution.

Côte d’Ivoire’s strategic position in West Africa’s energy landscape was also highlighted. The country boasts one of the region’s most robust electricity systems and has long served as a key player in cross-border power exchanges. The Compact’s projects are designed to further strengthen this regional integration, supporting the development of a unified West African electricity market.

Governance structure ensures accountability

The established governance framework—comprising a steering committee, technical committee, and coordination cell—will oversee implementation with a focus on meeting established deadlines. This structured approach aims to maintain momentum toward the Compact’s ambitious targets while ensuring transparent progress tracking.