Côte d'Ivoire is positioning itself to join the select circle of the five largest oil producers in Africa by 2035, buoyed by a spectacular increase in its oil and gas production over the next decade. This ambition was announced by the Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, at the inauguration of a new oil dock operated by the Société Nationale des Opérations Pétrolières de Côte d'Ivoire (PETROCI).
"By 2035, crude oil production should reach at least 500,000 barrels per day, which will place our country among the top five oil producers on the continent", said the Minister. This projection is based on recent discoveries of oil and gas fields and the start-up of new production infrastructures.
According to Mr Sangafowa-Coulibaly, Côte d'Ivoire is aiming to produce 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day and 600 million cubic feet of natural gas per day by 2030. By 2035, these figures are expected to more than double to 500,000 barrels of crude oil and more than one billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. This exponential growth is based on the development of new oil and gas fields, as well as massive investment in infrastructure, such as the newly inaugurated oil dock.
This surge in oil and gas production marks a strategic turning point for the Ivorian economy, which has traditionally depended on agriculture, particularly cocoa. By diversifying its sources of revenue, the country is seeking to strengthen its economic resilience and establish itself as a key player in the energy sector in West Africa.
The Ivorian authorities are also banking on partnerships with international oil companies and on strengthening PETROCI's capacity to maximise the exploitation of resources. This strategy should not only increase government revenues, but also generate jobs and stimulate the development of related infrastructure.
While the outlook is encouraging, challenges remain, particularly in terms of sustainable resource management, environmental protection and the balance between oil revenues and other economic sectors. The Ivorian government will also have to ensure a fair distribution of the benefits to support the country's social and economic development.
With these bold ambitions, Côte d'Ivoire is asserting itself as a future African oil giant, determined to transform its natural resources into a lever for inclusive and sustainable growth.