Côte d'Ivoire has become the latest country to join the World Bank Group's Scaling Solar program. It is expected to enable the African country to reach its goal of generating a minimum of 42% of power from renewable energy by 2030. For solar, Côte d'Ivoire aims to have power generating capacity of 400 MW by 2030.
Under an agreement signed with the Government of Côte d'Ivoire, the Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC) will help Côte d'Ivoire install 60 MW of grid connected solar power capacity through two public private partnership (PPP) projects under the program.
These two utility scale solar projects will be supported regarding development, tendering and financing to complement other planned solar projects in the West African nation.
Currently, Côte d'Ivoire has an installed power generation capacity of 2.2 GW, according to the IFC that says it is West Africa's third largest electrical system. With Scaling Solar, the IFC will help the country with transaction structuring advice, project documents, risk management products, finance, and insurance to support the 60 MW capacity.
"Developing and diversifying our energy supply is a top priority for Côte d'Ivoire as we grow our economy and increase the number of countries to which we export electricity," said Abdourahmane Cissé, Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Renewable Energy. "In accordance with our COP21 climate change commitments, Scaling Solar will help us tap our abundant solar resources and bring clean power to the people of Côte d'Ivoire, especially those in rural areas."
This makes Côte d'Ivoire the fifth African country to have joined the Scaling Solar program; the other members from the continent are Zambia, Senegal, Togo, Madagascar and Ethiopia even though the IFC announcement does not include Ethiopia's name. The program is now being expanded beyond Africa with Uzbekistan and even Afghanistan planning a 40 MW project under its aegis.
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