Ivory coast launches energy pact steering committee to boost electrification

The Steering Committee of Côte d’Ivoire’s National Energy Pact convened its inaugural meeting on August 4, 2026, at the SCIAM building in Abidjan. Chaired by Dr. Souleymane DIARRASSOUBA, Minister of Planning and Development, the session brought together key figures including Mamadou SANGAFOWA-COULIBALY, Minister of Mines, Oil, and Energy, alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Budget, the Prime Minister’s office, and the Presidential Cabinet. The gathering aimed to reinforce the committee’s operational framework and align its priorities with the Pact’s strategic objectives.

During the meeting, members reviewed progress on ongoing initiatives and agreed to host a roundtable discussion to secure funding for high-priority projects within the Pact’s agenda.

The National Energy Pact is a cornerstone of the Mission 300 initiative, a joint effort by the World Bank and African Development Bank to connect 300 million sub-Saharan Africans to electricity by 2030. Côte d’Ivoire officially adopted its Pact in January 2025, following its presentation by Prime Minister Robert Beugré MAMBÉ at the African Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Recognized as a model country in this initiative, Côte d’Ivoire joins 29 other African nations with active national pacts. The 2025–2030 implementation plan for the Ivorian Pact is valued at 6.56 billion USD (3,980 billion CFA francs), with 1,177 billion CFA francs anticipated from private investments.

The governance structure of the Pact includes a steering committee, a technical committee, and a coordination unit dedicated to overseeing its execution.

At the opening of the session, Dr. DIARRASSOUBA outlined the Pact’s four core objectives: universal electricity access, clean cooking solutions for households, a 45% share of renewables in the energy mix, and a financially sustainable energy sector. He emphasized the alignment of the Pact with the National Development Plan—the government’s primary policy framework—and the UN’s seventh Sustainable Development Goal, underscoring energy’s pivotal role in the nation’s socio-economic growth.

A progress report presented to the Committee highlighted significant strides toward the 2030 targets. In 2025 alone, Côte d’Ivoire connected 684,735 households—equivalent to 3.6 million people—exceeding its annual goal by 105.3%. Since 2024, the country has extended electricity access to 7.7 million citizens, with a national electrification rate now standing at 81.1%. The 2026–2030 investment portfolio, totaling 2,840 billion CFA francs, was also approved for financing mobilization.

The committee set strict deadlines for pending actions and committed to enforcing these timelines rigorously.

The Pact’s implementation leverages Côte d’Ivoire’s established regional leadership in West Africa’s energy sector. The country boasts one of the region’s most robust electricity systems and has long facilitated cross-border power exchanges. Projects outlined in the Pact will further integrate Côte d’Ivoire into the West African electricity market, reinforcing its position as a key player in regional energy collaboration.