Ivory Coast advances energy access with national pact steering committee

Abidjan witnessed a pivotal step in the Ivory Coast’s energy future as the Steering Committee of the National Energy Pact convened its maiden session on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. The high-level meeting, held at the SCIAM building, was presided over by Dr. Souleymane DIARRASSOUBA, Minister of Planning and Development, alongside key government figures including Mamadou SANGAFOWA-COULIBALY, Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, senior cabinet advisors, and the President’s technical advisor. The gathering focused on reinforcing the committee’s operational framework and aligning the pact’s strategic commitments.

The committee reviewed progress reports and greenlit plans for a roundtable to secure funding for priority projects under the pact. This initiative is part of the broader Mission 300 campaign, a joint effort by the World Bank and African Development Bank to electrify 300 million people across Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. The Ivory Coast adopted its National Energy Pact in January 2025, introduced by Prime Minister Robert Beugré MAMBÉ at the Dar es Salaam Energy Summit. Recognized as a model country, the Ivory Coast joins 29 African nations with similar pacts. The implementation budget for the Ivorian pact totals 6.56 billion dollars (3,980 billion CFA francs) for 2025–2030, with 1,177 billion CFA francs expected from private investments.

The governance structure includes a steering committee, a technical committee, and a coordination unit dedicated to the National Energy Pact.

Four pillars of the energy pact

Opening 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 financial sustainability of the sector. He emphasized alignment with the National Development Plan and the UN’s seventh Sustainable Development Goal, underscoring energy’s critical role in the nation’s socio-economic progress.

Progress toward 2030 targets

Progress reports presented to the committee show steady advances toward the 2030 goals. In 2025 alone, the Ivory Coast connected 684,735 households—nearly 3.6 million people—to the grid, surpassing the annual target by 105.3%. Since 2024, 7.7 million Ivorians have gained access to electricity, with a national electrification rate now standing at 81.1%.

The committee also discussed pending reforms and set new deadlines for outstanding actions, vowing to ensure timely execution.

Regional integration and future outlook

Ivory Coast’s electricity system ranks among West Africa’s most robust, and the country has long served as a key player in regional power exchanges. Projects outlined in the pact aim to deepen this integration, supporting the development of a unified West African electricity market.