Côte d’Ivoire Breaks Ground on 50 MW Solar Power Plant in Katiola

Côte d’Ivoire has launched construction of a 50-megawatt-peak (MWp) solar power plant in the northern-central town of Katiola, as the West African country seeks to expand renewable energy production and diversify its electricity supply.

Energy Minister Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly laid the project’s foundation stone on Thursday, October 22, at Lonankaha, where the facility is expected to be built over the next 15 months. The plant is projected to provide electricity access to more than 300,000 people, according to the government.

The project is being developed by Katiola Solar Power, with Toyota and French energy company EDF among the partners cited by the minister. The planned investment is approximately 33 billion CFA francs (about $58 million), based on the cost announced by the government in 2025.

However, the project’s financial arrangements are not yet fully completed. The developer said financial close was expected in the coming weeks, while construction preparations and the selection of a contractor had progressed. The 15-month construction timeline will therefore depend on the project moving forward as planned.

The facility is expected to create around 150 direct jobs, with as many as 350 people involved at the peak of construction. About 20 permanent positions are planned for operations and maintenance. The government has also called on the developer to prioritise local residents in recruitment and support economic opportunities for women in the area.

Katiola is part of a broader national solar expansion programme. Côte d’Ivoire already has operational solar plants in Boundiali, with a capacity of 80 MWp, and Ferkessédougou, with 52 MWp. Additional projects are planned in several regions, including Kong, Bondoukou, Odienné, Niakara, Dabakala, Mankono and Soubré.

The government aims to bring total solar capacity connected to the national grid to 1,262 MWp by 2030 and increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix to 45% by the same year.

The expansion comes as electricity demand grows and the government seeks to attract private investment to fund new generation capacity. Whether the Katiola project meets its timetable will depend on completing financing and delivering the plant and its grid connection.

Once operational, the facility is expected to add new solar generation to Côte d’Ivoire’s electricity network, although its actual contribution will depend on final construction, connection and operating performance.