9th ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF 2024): Côte d'Ivoire Calls for Accelerated Development of Renewable Energy and Improved Energy Efficiency

On Thursday, November 28, 2024, in Abidjan, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, Côte d'Ivoire’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum, and Energy, urged state and private sector stakeholders within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to expedite the development of renewable energy and enhance energy efficiency.

The minister’s call was made during the opening ceremony of the 9th ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF 2024), held alongside the inaugural International Fair on Extractive and Energy Resources (SIREXE 2024).

Sangafowa-Coulibaly highlighted Côte d’Ivoire’s ongoing efforts to boost renewable energy and energy efficiency. He stated, “The implementation of our action plan will inevitably lead us to achieve our commitment of raising the share of renewable energy in our energy mix to 45% by 2030 while also optimizing our energy consumption.”

Jean Francis Sempore, Executive Director of the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), emphasized the region’s remarkable progress in renewable energy deployment. He noted that the installed capacity of grid-connected solar photovoltaic power plants in the ECOWAS region has grown exponentially, from 5 MW in 2010 to 900 MW in 2024, with projections exceeding 1 GW by 2025 and 5 GW by 2030. This represents a 1,000-fold increase in solar PV capacity over two decades.

Sempore also highlighted the establishment of the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Skills Certification System, which is being implemented across member states in collaboration with national frameworks. The certification process aligns with regional and international standards, fostering a skilled workforce for the energy sector.

The theme of this year’s forum, “Towards a Just Energy Transition in West Africa,” underscores the critical challenges facing the region as it navigates the path toward sustainable and equitable energy solutions.

By hosting ESEF 2024, Côte d’Ivoire reinforces its commitment to regional energy cooperation and its ambition to become a leader in the renewable energy sector in West Africa.