Infinity Power wins Côte d’Ivoire Scaling Solar tender with record-low tariffs for 80 MW solar capacity
Projects will provide clean electricity to over 400,000 people, boosting access in remote communities
The initiative supports Côte d’Ivoire’s goal of generating 42% of electricity through renewable sources by 2030, from 1% today
The Government of Côte d’Ivoire and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have selected Infinity Power Holding to build 2 grid-connected solar PV plants under the World Bank’s Scaling Solar program. Together totaling 80 MW, the projects will supply power at record-low tariffs in West and Central Africa.
A joint venture (JV) between Infinity of Egypt and the UAE’s Masdar, Infinity Power won the project with bids to supply 80 MW of solar power at €0.03310 ($0.039)/kWh for a site in Laboa and €0.03213 ($0.037)/kWh for a site in Touba. It claims this sets a new record for the lowest solar independent power producer (IPP) tariffs in West and Central Africa.
On completion, these will generate clean energy for more than 400,000 households, schools, hospitals, and businesses in remote regions, said IFC.
“These solar plants will not just bring affordable electricity to hundreds of thousands of people but will also empower communities, strengthen infrastructure, and accelerate the country’s progress toward a decarbonised future,” said Infinity Power Co-Founder and Chairman, Mohamed Ismail Mansour. Infinity entered 2 concession agreements with the government for these projects.
Côte d'Ivoire's Ministry of Mines, Oil and Energy and Côte d'Ivoire Energies (CI-Energies) had initially launched the Scaling Solar tender for 60 MW capacity for Laboa and Touba cities in the Bafing region in June 2021. Infinity Power beat 8 other pre-qualified companies and consortia to win this round (see 60 MW Côte d’Ivoire Scaling Solar Update).
Côte d'Ivoire targets to generate 42% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030, up from 1% at present, and these projects will contribute towards this aim.
“These projects have three key objectives: to increase our production capacity, to strengthen our energy resilience, and to create local job and investment opportunities,” added Côte d'Ivoire’s Minister of Mines, Oil and Energy, Mamdou Sangafowa-Coulibaly.
Scaling Solar is a World Bank initiative, designed as a one-stop shop program for privately funded, grid-connected solar power projects to help reduce energy generation costs across multiple countries. Some of the projects successfully commissioned under its aegis are in Senegal, Zambia, and Uzbekistan (see Masdar Wins Another 400 MW Scaling Solar In Uzbekistan).