Côte d'Ivoire has signed a concession agreement with Kong Solaire, a joint venture between InfraCo Africa and Africa Via, to develop a 50 MWp solar power plant in the northern region of the country.

The project, valued at 37 billion FA francs, will be built under a Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) model and is expected to generate 97 GWh of clean electricity annually, enough to power 240,000 homes.

The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Mines, Petroleum, and Energy Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, who emphasized the project's importance in increasing the share of renewables in Côte d'Ivoire's energy mix and creating jobs.

The plant will be equipped with the latest solar panel technologies and connected to a transmission line and substation, supplying electricity to residential and commercial customers.

The project aligns with Côte d'Ivoire's goal of achieving 45% renewable energy by 2030 and its ambitious approach to energy independence.

InfraCo Africa's Head of Business Development, Omar Jabri, said the project demonstrates the company's commitment to promoting resilient infrastructure development in Côte d'Ivoire.

“We are delighted to co-develop this project with InfraCo Africa, with whom we share common ambitions to realise the implementation of projects that enable the sustainable development of Pan-African economies and directly benefit the most vulnerable populations," Africa Via's CEO, Minkalla Salam said in an official joint statement.

The project is expected to demonstrate the viability of solar generation in Côte d'Ivoire, attracting private sector finance and expertise to expand the country's solar sector.