Côte d’Ivoire Launches Construction of Three Solar Plants with a Combined Capacity of 152 MW
Côte d’Ivoire has launched construction of three new solar photovoltaic plants with a combined capacity of 152 megawatts-peak (MWp), as the country steps up efforts to diversify its energy sources and strengthen electricity supply.
The launch ceremonies took place from October 22 to 24, 2026, in Katiola, M’Bengué, home to the Tongon solar plant, and Binguébougou, in the country’s northern Poro region. Mines, Petroleum and Energy Minister Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly attended the launch events, according to government information and the Ivorian Press Agency (AIP).
The three facilities will have capacities of 50 MWp in Katiola, 52 MWp in Tongon and 50 MWp in Binguébougou. According to Ivorian authorities, the projects are expected to improve electricity access for more than 900,000 people.
The Tongon solar plant represents an investment of approximately 33 billion CFA francs. It is expected to become operational by mid-2028 at the latest. The project is also expected to create nearly 500 jobs during construction.
In Binguébougou, the 50 MWp project is being developed by Emirati group AMEA Power and is financed entirely through private investment, according to the AIP. The facility is expected to generate enough electricity to meet the needs of more than 100,000 households.
Authorities also anticipate economic benefits for local communities, including job creation and the development of social infrastructure.
The three projects form part of a national programme to develop more than 15 solar power plants, with a planned combined capacity of 1,262 MWp by 2030.
Côte d’Ivoire aims to increase the share of renewable energy in its electricity mix to 45% by that year. Expanding solar power is expected to help meet growing electricity demand while diversifying the country’s energy sources.
Achieving these targets will depend on construction timelines, the connection of the plants to the national grid and their effective commissioning.
