Renewable Energy: Groundbreaking of Kong Photovoltaic Plant with 50 Megawatt Capacity for 380,000 Households

The Minister of Mines, Petroleum, and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, laid the first stone of the Kong photovoltaic power plant on Thursday, October 9, 2025. The plant will have a production capacity of 50 megawatts, enough to meet the electricity needs of nearly 380,000 households in the Tchologo region, where Kong is located.

Named Kong Solaire, the plant will be built on an 80-hectare site and is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2027. The project represents an investment of over 37 billion FCFA, according to the minister.

“This project is part of Côte d’Ivoire’s strategic choice to accelerate its energy transition by diversifying the electricity mix and increasing the share of renewable energies, in line with the vision of President Alassane Ouattara. The goal is to raise the share of renewable energy to 45% by 2030,” explained Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly.

In addition to its energy and environmental benefits, the Kong plant will create more than 400 direct and indirect jobs. The minister also announced plans to construct around twelve solar plants by 2030, totaling a capacity of 1,044 MW, and stated that Kong Solaire will help avoid the emission of 55,000 tons of CO₂ per year.

Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly further urged the Kong Solaire Group to support local women, especially those working in agriculture.

According to Minkaïla Salami, representative of Africavia and President of Kong Solaire Group, this project demonstrates the Ivorian authorities’ commitment to providing clean, accessible, and reliable energy capable of transforming the lives of thousands of families and supporting local industrial and commercial growth.

Technically, the project will feature 88,000 state-of-the-art solar modules.

The groundbreaking of Kong Solaire follows the inauguration of the Boundiali solar plant and the groundbreaking of Ferké Solar and Amea Gontougo.