Côte d’Ivoire has launched construction of a 50 megawatt-peak (MWp) photovoltaic solar plant in Lonankaha, in the department of Katiola, Hambol region. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on October 22, 2026, attended by Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly. The developer expects fifteen months of construction and says the project could help provide electricity access for more than 300,000 people.
Katiola Solar Power is developing the project under an agreement signed in December 2024 and approved by decree in May 2025. Investment was then estimated at around CFA 33 billion, including associated infrastructure. This estimate will need to be compared with final costs at financial close, which the developer says it expects in the coming weeks.
A solar project within a broader program
The Katiola plant joins facilities already operating in Boundiali and Ferkessédougou, along with several projects under development. The authorities aim to diversify electricity generation and increase renewables’ share of the national mix. Côte d’Ivoire’s sector plan targets 45% renewable energy by 2030, including hydropower; this figure therefore does not represent a solar-only target.
The minister placed the project within a broader solar ambition, while stressing that the electricity generated must enter the national grid. The Katiola facility will be connected by a line of around 1.3 kilometers. Its value will therefore depend not only on installed panels, but also on connection capacity, stable generation and coordination with the grid operator.
The 50 MWp rating denotes the panels’ maximum capacity under standard conditions. It does not represent constant output of 50 megawatts or a guaranteed annual volume of electricity. Actual generation will depend on sunlight, equipment availability, electrical losses and operating conditions. The developer’s beneficiary figure must likewise be understood as an estimate of electricity access the project could support, rather than a count of connections already completed.
Local recruitment at the center of expectations
During the ceremony, Sangafowa-Coulibaly asked the developer to prioritize residents of Katiola and Lonankaha for construction jobs. He also called on private partners to support local economic activities, particularly those of women involved in pottery and agriculture. The minister’s message is clear: the project’s contribution must be measured both by electricity supplied and by opportunities created around the site.
According to the developer’s estimates, construction could generate nearly 150 direct jobs and involve up to 350 people at its peak. Around twenty positions would subsequently be needed for operation and maintenance. These figures are forecasts, not jobs already filled. Their local impact will depend on recruitment criteria, training and the share of procurement and services awarded to businesses in the region.
Supporting women’s activities gives the project an economic dimension extending beyond construction alone. However, the minister’s call for investors to support women potters and farmers does not yet constitute a detailed program. Financing, training and market access arrangements will need to be specified to turn this direction into measurable results.
Continuity between preparation and execution
The project began several years before construction was launched. Initial steps date back to 2021, and the agreement with Katiola Solar Power was signed in 2024. Sangafowa-Coulibaly acknowledged his predecessor’s role, now mayor of Katiola, in the initial preparation, while noting that negotiations required for implementation had subsequently continued. This institutional continuity advanced the project to the construction phase.
The developer’s representative said studies had begun after the agreement was signed and a construction company had been selected with CI-Énergies. Mandate letters were concluded with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Proparco, while financial close was still awaited. A financing mandate marks a structuring milestone, but does not mean all funds have already been disbursed or financial close achieved.
Making the land available also required consultation with landowners and local authorities. The site covers around 60 hectares, according to information presented by the mayor. The developer referred to compensation for people affected by occupation of the land and support to restore their livelihoods. Implementing these commitments will be important to maintain community support during construction.
The next milestones to watch
The Katiola plant now has an announced schedule, a concession agreement and an identified site. The decisive indicators will be financial close, the effective start of construction, compliance with compensation rules, the number of local jobs actually filled and the grid connection date. The fifteen-month target will need to be assessed against these milestones and any technical adjustments.
For Côte d’Ivoire, this project adds to the diversification of electricity supply. For Katiola and Lonankaha, it raises expectations around jobs, electricity access and economic activity. The challenge will be to fulfill commitments made at the ceremony: build on schedule, connect generation and ensure host communities benefit in practice from construction and operation.