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:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

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).

Clenergy has appointed Haydn Fletcher and Samir Jacob to strategic positions to strengthen its operations in Australia and internationally, amid targeted commercial expansion.
Abunayyan Holding and US-based Nextracker launch an industrial joint venture in Riyadh to locally produce large-scale solar equipment for Saudi Arabia and the MENA region.
ENGIE North America has signed new power purchase agreements with Meta for a 600 MW solar project in Texas, bringing their renewable energy partnership in the US to over 1.3 GW.
OPES Solar Mobility launches Europe's first factory for flexible vehicle solar panels in Zwenkau, targeting truck, bus and utility vehicle markets across several continents.
Abu Dhabi has begun construction on the world’s first gigascale solar and battery storage project, capable of delivering 1GW of baseload renewable power, with operations expected by 2027.
Shanghai Electric has signed phase II of the Parau photovoltaic project with Econergy, expanding its Romanian solar portfolio to 550 MW.
Swift Solar has installed its perovskite solar panels on a military site for the first time, as part of a US Department of Defense exercise testing energy resilience for critical infrastructure.
Mitsubishi Logistics has signed a virtual power purchase agreement with JERA Cross for 8MW of solar power, marking a new step in its energy strategies with investment plans through 2030.
The levelised cost of solar electricity continues to fall globally, reaching a regional record of $37/MWh in the Middle East and Africa thanks to tracker technologies, according to the latest market data.
Island Green Power opens a public consultation on design changes to its 500MW East Pye solar and battery storage project ahead of a permit application expected in early 2026.
US-based solar developer Ampliform secured a loan facility of up to $165mn to support large-scale energy projects in key regional markets, with a focus on the PJM grid.
More than 75 solar projects in the United States were tax-sheltered in Q2 through GameChange BOS transformers, responding directly to new U.S. Treasury requirements.
Chanel has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with REDEN to supply nearly one-third of its electricity needs in France from two photovoltaic plants commissioned in 2025.
i Grid Solutions and Tokyu Land will develop an additional 200MW of on-site solar under power purchase agreements by 2029 through their joint venture TLC VPP, with an investment exceeding JPY20bn ($133mn).
US-based developer Janta Power secures funding to expand its vertical photovoltaic towers across data centres, airports, charging stations and critical infrastructure.
The global floating solar panel market could triple by 2030, supported by energy demand and favourable regulations, according to the latest double-digit annual growth forecasts.
SMFL Mirai Partners commits to purchasing fifty low-voltage solar plants from GreenEnergy Plus, targeting 50MW installed capacity by fiscal 2030 to strengthen its supply strategy for private power purchase agreements.
Recurrent Energy, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar, secured $825mn to develop a 150 MWac solar plant and a 600 MWh storage site in Maricopa County, in partnership with Arizona Public Service.
Canadian firm Stardust Solar grants its first African franchise to Megatricity Energy in Zambia, launching a new phase of expansion into emerging solar energy markets.
French energy company elmy finalises a €3.5mn bank loan with Caisse d’Epargne Rhône Alpes to fund 13 new photovoltaic plants with a combined capacity of 3.6 MWp.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.