Energy Sector

Electricity in Côte d’Ivoire comes from a mix of thermal (mostly natural gas) and hydropower generation sources. A rapidly expanding economy is placing increasing demand on supply although in 2015 the country was still able to export about 10% of its power production to neighbouring countries. Both the electrification rate and customer electricity tariffs are on the rise.

Key Electricity Sector Indicators

Peak demand was recorded at 1,193 MW in 2015, an increase of 29% over the 2011 peak of 925, or an annual average increase of 7.5%. In the same year, there were more than 1.4 million customers connected at low voltage and 4,462 at medium voltage. The electrification rate in 2014 was reported as 62%, with 88% in urban and 31% in rural areas. Figures from the Société des Energies de Côte d’Ivoire (CI-ENERGIES) for 2015 show that 80% of the population had access to electricity, giving an indication of the potential for connectivity/densification efforts.

Electricity Consumption in 2014

The growing economy of Côte d’Ivoire puts the current power supply under pressure. The government thus set goals to increase its power production capacity by 2020 to about 4,000 MW and 6,000 MW by 2030 to meet the rising demand. In addition, the country aims to play a central role as a net exporter in the West African Power Pool.

Côte d’Ivoire relies to a large extent on Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to generate and supply electricity to meet the growing energy demand. There are currently 3 IPPs in Côte d’Ivoire; they are Azito Energie, Ciprel and Aggreko. The country has a total installed capacity of 1,886 MW (2016) and produced a total of 8,618 GWh in 2015. As of 2017, 81% of the electricity is produced by thermal power stations while 19% is generated by hydropower plants. This balance may change with a new government owned 275 MW hydro plant expected to be commissioned in 2017. A 3 MW biomass plant was also reported to be online in 2015. Côte d’Ivoire has 55 isolated power plants that produced 10 GWh combined in 2015. In 2015, the country netted 849 GWh of exports to five clients: Énergie du Mali (EDM), Volta River Authority (VRA) in Ghana, Communauté Électrique du Bénin (CEB) for Bénin-Togo, the Société Nationale d’Électricité (SONABEL) in Burkina Faso, and the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC).

In its Strategic Plan for the Development of the Electricity Sector by 2030, the government identified 66 projects that will require significant investment from the private sector, including through public private partnerships with Independent Power Producers, to expand power capacity production and to modernize the transport and distribution of electricity throughout the country. Efforts are underway to increase hydroelectric and thermal electricity generation with construction of new hydroelectric dams and thermal power plants as well as expansion projects at existing thermal power plants. The government is also increasing its focus on rural electrification and encouraging the production of new and renewable energy sources.

Installed generation capacity (MW)

The Ivorian transmission grid is based on two high voltage levels: 90 kV (2,645 km) and 225 kV (2,088 km). The distribution grid consists of 30 kV and 15 kV (22,336 km) as well as 220 V and 380 V (19,599 km) lines. The Compagnie Ivoirienne d’Électricité (CIE) operates the power grid, as well as a number of large hydropower plants, under a concession with the state. The transmission and distribution systems in Côte d’Ivoire are out-dated and overloaded with total energy losses at 22%. This shows the need for grid rehabilitation and system upgrading to reduce losses.

Also, with interconnection transmission lines to Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea under construction, Côte d’Ivoire plans to be a major electricity trading hub in the West African Power Pool (WAPP).

Transmission and distribution network in Côte d’Ivoire

Source: Anare

Current electricity tariffs in Côte d’Ivoire are not linked to inflation or the real costs of energy. However, in June 2016 the government adopted a schedule for tariff adjustments over the next few years: a 10 per cent capped tariff increase in 2016 and a subsequent five per cent increase in 2017 and 2018, followed by a three per cent increase in 2019 and 2020. Due to complaints about the price-hike that amounted to almost 40% in some cases, President Ouattara was forced to cancel the January 2016 increase.

The tariff for most domestic customers ranges from approximately EUR 0.055/kWh to 0.096/kWh depending on customer class and usage, with a bi-monthly fixed charge of EUR 0.85-1.80. This is before VAT and levies (e.g. for rural electrification) on the tariff. The small commercial base tariff ranges from EUR 0.102/kWh to 0120/kWh, with a bi-monthly fixed charge of EUR 2.15.

Medium voltage customer tariffs vary by customer class, demand and time-of-use. Unit rates range from EUR 0.039/kWh to 0.165/kWh and annual demand charges from EUR 27/kW to EUR 121/kW. High voltage customer tariffs likewise range widely for the same reasons from EUR 0.054/kWh to EUR 0.175/kWh and annual demand charges from EUR 53/kW to 113/kW. These figures are exclusive of VAT and levies.

Electricity tariff schedule – domestic and small commercial

Source: Anare

Electricity tariff schedule – medium and high voltage

Source: Anare

As of 31 December 2015, ANARE reported 55 isolated power plants in operation with a total installed capacity of about 5.6 MW, producing 10 GWh of electricity. The isolated generators range in size from 40 kVA to 640 kV and are distributed fairly evenly across the Country. A further seven village-level solar PV-diesel hybrid mini-grids with a total capacity of 465 kW serve residents in the north-eastern region of Zanzan.

With a number of rural towns and villages with little or no access to the transmission grid, off-grid electrification is one of Côte d’Ivoire’s priorities. Recently, an East African solar home system/financing company signed an agreement with a European utility to supply 2 million people in Côte d’Ivoire with solar energy by 2020. Such private sector efforts will complement government-led initiatives to provide stand-alone solar PV systems in parts of the Country.

Map of isolated generators in Côte d’Ivoire

Source: Anare