Côte d’Ivoire has secured $749 million in financing agreements to build a 372-megawatt combined-cycle gas-fired power plant in Songon, within the greater Abidjan district.

The investment marks one of the country’s most significant energy infrastructure expansions as it moves to reinforce electricity reliability and scale industrial capacity.

More than 80% of the funding is directed toward construction, underscoring the project’s central role in the country’s long-term energy strategy.

Rising demand drives capacity build-out

The planned facility is expected to generate approximately 2.8 billion kilowatt-hours annually, supplying stable and efficient electricity to millions of consumers.

Côte d’Ivoire’s electricity demand is rising at an estimated 10% to 15% per year, driven by urban expansion, industrial growth, and rising household consumption. Recent grid disruptions have further highlighted the urgency of expanding baseload generation capacity.

Energy hub ambitions in West Africa

The government has positioned the Songon plant as a strategic asset in balancing national supply and demand while strengthening Côte d’Ivoire’s role as a regional electricity hub.

Power exports already flow through cross-border interconnections to Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Liberia, and Guinea, reinforcing the country’s growing influence in West Africa’s integrated energy market.

Rapid capacity growth since 2011

Côte d’Ivoire’s installed electricity capacity has surged from 1,391 megawatts in 2011 to 3,019 megawatts in 2024, a 117% increase over 13 years.

The country is targeting 5,000 megawatts by 2030, supported by utility-scale solar projects and biomass initiatives, including cocoa shell–based energy production as part of its transition strategy.

Regional energy powerhouse in the making

Beyond gas-fired expansion, Côte d’Ivoire is scaling transmission infrastructure, now exceeding 7,700 kilometers of high-voltage lines. This network expansion strengthens its position as a critical power corridor for West Africa’s growing electricity trade.

The Songon project signals a broader shift: from domestic capacity expansion toward regional energy leadership anchored in gas, renewables, and cross-border integration.