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Côte d'Ivoire’s energy minister Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly laid the foundation stone on a 46MW biomass power plant at Ayebo, 100km east of Abidjan, on 20 July.

The project is being developed by Biovea Energie, which is made up of France's EDF (40%) and Meridiam (36%) and the local SIFCA (24%). The plant is due to start up at the end of 2025.

The power plant will be fed with agricultural waste from 12,000 palm oil producers and will provide electricity for 1.7 million people.

The €200 million pilot project has been supported with funding from France's Proparco and the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG).

Similar biomass projects are planned at other locations around the country, the minister said at the stone-laying ceremony. These include a 73.6MW plant at Divo and a 20MW facility at Gagnoa, both of which will fed with cocoa waste and a 25MW plant at Boundiali which will be fed with cotton stalk.

“These plants are all currently in the study phase,” said Coulibaly.

Côte d'Ivoire is aiming for renewables to account for 45% of its energy mix by 2030.

According to the minister, the country has 24 renewables projects at various stages of development with a combined capacity of 1,535MW. The projects should all be operational by 2030 and include hydropower, solar and biomass.

The 25-year concession agreement for the design, construction and operation of the Ayebo biomass power plant was signed in 2019. In August 2022, China Energy Engineering Corp announced it had been awarded the engineering, procurement and construction contract.

The project will generate new income for farmers as well as providing much-need energy. It will also create at least 500 local jobs during construction and about 1,000 direct full-time jobs during the operation of the plant.

Photo: Energy minister Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly speaking at the ceremony (Source: Côte d'Ivoire government)