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Côte d'Ivoire consolidates its energy sovereignty and its role as a sub-regional hub

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La Côte d'Ivoire consolide sa souveraineté énergétique et son rôle de hub sous-régional

Côte d'Ivoire is gradually establishing itself as a major player in extractive and energy resources in West Africa. Thanks to ambitious reforms and strategic discoveries, the country is transforming this sector into a key lever for its economic growth and structural transformation.

The Baleine and Calao oil and gas fields, as well as gold projects such as those at Tanda and Koné, bear witness to the exceptional potential of Côte d'Ivoire's subsoil. These discoveries, among the most important in the country's history, reinforce its ambition to become a sub-regional energy hub.

In his message to the nation on 31 December 2024, President Alassane Ouattara hailed the progress made: "Our energy and mining policy is starting to deliver tangible results".

These results are significant: oil production, currently at 60,000 barrels per day, is expected to reach 200,000 barrels by 2027, before increasing tenfold by 2030. This dynamism is the result of reforms in the oil sector, in particular the 2012 oil code, which attracted CFAF 4,513 billion in investment in oil exploitation.

Gold production in Côte d'Ivoire has quadrupled in a decade, and manganese production has increased thirty-fold. At the same time, the exploitation of strategic minerals such as cobalt and lithium is beginning to emerge, paving the way for new economic opportunities in modern technologies.

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The Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, has highlighted the potential of the country's western and north-eastern regions, which are rich in strategic minerals. Reforms to the mining code in 2014, followed by an overhaul focused on local processing and transparency, have seen the number of exploration licences increase from 120 to 189, and the number of mining projects multiply.

Côte d'Ivoire's membership of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) demonstrates its commitment to the fair and responsible management of its resources. A recently adopted law on local content guarantees a better distribution of wealth for the benefit of local communities.

At the first International Extractive and Energy Resources Exhibition (SIREXE), Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné stressed the importance of these reforms in attracting investment and maximising the economic benefits of the sector.

Aware of the environmental challenges, Côte d'Ivoire aims to increase the share of renewable energy to 45% of its energy mix by 2030. Notable initiatives include the Boundiali solar power plant, due to be inaugurated in April 2024, and a number of forthcoming solar projects in towns such as Katiola, Mankono and Korhogo.

The government is working on an integrated policy for mineral and energy resources up to 2040. This approach aims to optimise the management of natural resources while ensuring that their exploitation contributes to the structural transformation of the economy.

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By drawing on its natural resources and modernised governance, Côte d'Ivoire is positioning itself as a model for African countries wishing to combine responsible exploitation and sustainable development.

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