Ivory Coast approves $60mn solar power plant in Katiola

The Ivorian government has approved a 25-year concession for an 85,934 MWh solar power plant in Katiola under a public-private partnership with Swiss energy firm JC Mont-Fort.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90£/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90£/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 £/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99£/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 £/year from the second year.

The government of Ivory Coast has officially approved the concession agreement for the construction of a solar power plant in Katiola, located in the Hambol region in the north of the country. The project, validated during the Council of Ministers on May 21, 2025, represents an investment of CFA33bn ($60mn), fully funded by the private sector.

The concession was granted to Katiola Solar Power, a subsidiary of Swiss group JC Mont-Fort, for a duration of 25 years. According to the agreement signed in December 2024, the company is responsible for the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the facility. Once operational, the plant is expected to produce 85,934 MWh of electricity annually.

A strategy backed by the private sector

This initiative is part of a broader portfolio of energy projects driven by private investors, within a policy aimed at diversifying a power mix still largely dependent on natural gas. Through the “Pacte National Énergie”, the Ivorian government aims to raise the share of renewables to 45% by 2030 and mobilise $2bn in private investment.

Ongoing projects include the FERKE SOLAR plant (52.42 MWc), developed by PFO Energies, with joint financing from the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF) and the West African Development Bank (BOAD). Construction of Bondoukou Solar (50 MW), led by AMEA Power under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model, began in February 2025 with support from the Dutch Development Bank (FMO) and the German Investment Corporation (DEG).

A sustained effort to boost capacity

Alongside solar development, Ivory Coast has also strengthened its hydropower capacity. The Gribo-Popoli dam (112 MW), co-financed by Eximbank China and the Ivorian state, was commissioned in May 2025. The project highlights the national strategy’s focus on complementarity between different energy sources.

According to Ivorian authorities, these projects respond to rising electricity demand driven by demographic growth and industrialisation. By attracting foreign capital through public-private partnerships, the country aims to ensure stable power production while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.

The Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy stated that the ongoing infrastructure developments will secure national grid supply and boost export capacity to neighbouring countries within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Doral Renewables has signed a power purchase agreement for 75% of the output from its Cold Creek Solar project, expanding its contracted portfolio to over 1.6 GW nationwide.
SNCF Voyageurs secures direct solar electricity supply from two plants owned by Octopus Energy and BayWa r.e., through 25-year agreements aimed at powering its rail network.
The end of China's VAT rebate and reduced output bring an end to eighteen months of historically low prices in solar and storage sectors.
The Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects has shortlisted several companies for Phase III of the Al Dibdibah solar plant, with a net capacity of 500 MW.
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has agreed to examine compensation claims by ACME Solar and AMPIN Energy, citing losses caused by non-operational transmission lines.
Waaree Energies has activated a new 950 MW photovoltaic module production line in Degam, strengthening its industrial investment programme in western India.
India opens a new rooftop solar tender phase, offering 3,640 kW under the RESCO model, with a pre-bid meeting held online on October 6 by Solar Energy Corporation of India.
The Japanese developer has reached a total of 100MW in solar capacity under power purchase agreements with Microsoft, spread across four projects in the country, two of which are already operational.
SNCF Énergie signed four new renewable electricity purchase agreements with Neoen in July, covering the annual consumption equivalent of the TGV Paris–Bordeaux line.
RWE has inaugurated a 4 megawatt-peak solar park in Charente-Maritime, built on a former municipal landfill site and capable of supplying electricity to approximately 1,500 households.
EDF power solutions and El Paso Electric have started operations at the Milagro Energy Center, combining 150 MW of solar photovoltaic capacity and 75 MW of battery storage under a 20-year power purchase agreement.
Iberdrola strengthens its partnership with Norges Bank Investment Management by adding two Spanish photovoltaic plants, raising joint operational capacity to 900 MW.
Producer Red Rocket has finalised financing for a 331 MWp solar park in Mpumalanga, backed by a 20-year power purchase agreement with Discovery Green.
Sun Investment Group has launched a crowdfunding campaign with Enerfip to raise up to €1.6mn ($1.7mn) to support the development of twelve photovoltaic plants in Italy totalling 113 MW.
GreenYellow will develop a 1.5 MWp photovoltaic plant in Mauritius for Volailles et Traditions, with an expected annual output of 2.45 GWh fed into the national power grid.
An alternative energy scenario proposes increasing solar and storage capacity by 2037 to reduce fossil fuel dependence and cut electricity generation costs in Thailand.
Osaka Gas and Daiwa Energy & Infrastructure have formed a partnership to expand their renewable energy business with the acquisition of a 25MW solar power plant in Kyoto, formerly owned by Kyocera TCL Solar.
Global South Utilities, filiale de Resources Investment LTD, inaugure à N’Djamena la centrale Noor Chad de 50 MW avec 5 MWh de stockage, dimensionnée pour alimenter des centaines de milliers de foyers et exploitée directement par l’entreprise.
Nine African countries will receive €545mn ($638mn) in European Union funding to support rural electrification and strengthen regional renewable energy infrastructure.
TotalEnergies will transfer half of a 1.4 gigawatt solar portfolio to KKR, strengthening its position in the North American power market while securing $950 million through the sale and bank refinancing.