The National Energy Pact steering committee convened its maiden session on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the SCIAM building in Abidjan, chaired by Dr Souleymane DIARRASSOUBA, Minister of Planning and Development. The gathering brought together key officials including the Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mr. Mamadou SANGAFOWA-COULIBALY, the Deputy Cabinet Director of the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Budget, the Deputy Cabinet Director of the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Technical Advisor to the President’s Cabinet.

The session focused on reinforcing the National Energy Committee’s operational framework and aligning the Pact’s strategic commitments. Progress updates were validated, and a high-level roundtable was greenlit to attract critical funding for priority initiatives.

The National Energy Pact aligns with the Mission 300 initiative—a joint effort by the World Bank and African Development Bank to electrify 300 million people across sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. Côte d’Ivoire formalized its pact in January 2025, presenting it at the African Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Recognized as a model country by Mission 300 partners, Côte d’Ivoire joins 29 African nations with national energy pacts. The Ivorian pact’s total funding requirement stands at 6.56 billion USD (approximately 3,980 billion CFA francs) for 2025–2030, with 1,177 billion CFA francs expected from private investors.

The governance structure includes a steering committee, a technical committee, and a dedicated coordination unit for the National Energy Pact.

Strategic priorities and progress

At the meeting’s outset, the Minister of Planning underscored the Pact’s four core objectives: universal electricity access, clean cooking solutions for households, a 45% renewable energy share in the national grid, and financial sustainability for the energy sector. He emphasized the Pact’s alignment with the National Development Plan and the UN’s seventh Sustainable Development Goal, highlighting energy’s pivotal role in driving economic and social progress.

Progress reports indicate significant strides toward the 2030 targets. In 2025 alone, Côte d’Ivoire connected 684,735 households to the grid—benefiting nearly 3.6 million people and exceeding its annual target by 105.3%. Since 2024, the country has electrified 7.7 million people, with a national coverage rate now at 81.1% against a 2030 goal of 17 million.

The reforms and investments are progressing in tandem. The 2026–2030 investment portfolio, presented to the committee, outlines priority projects worth approximately 2,840 billion CFA francs, currently under financing negotiations.

Regional integration and future milestones

The steering committee also set new deadlines for pending actions, vowing to enforce strict adherence. Côte d’Ivoire’s electricity system is a regional powerhouse in West Africa, and its ongoing projects will further integrate the country into the emerging West African electricity market.