Energy & Mining
From The Report: Cote d’Ivoire 2019
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Côte d’Ivoire has made substantial efforts to increase generation capacity, upgrade infrastructure and expand the electricity network, translating into rising investment. The country is also diversifying the energy mix, which tradition¬ally relied on gas-fuelled and hydraulic power plants. The push into renewables could reshape the energy mix and reduce reliance on gas-fired energy. Additionally, a renewed interest for oil and gas exploration could place the country on the map of hydrocarbon producers. With a largely untapped mining potential, Côte d’Ivoire has become an exploration hotspot in West Africa. While gold remains the primary export, accelerated exploration is necessary to sustain growth. Recovering manganese prices are boosting output and the new focus on rare minerals is diversifying revenues. Effective implementation of the mining code will be key for medium-term growth and the continuance of investor confidence. This chapter contains interviews with Marc Alberola, CEO, Eranove; and Jeff Quartermaine, CEO, Perseus Mining.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Boosting capacity: Traditional and renewable sources are targeted to address growing energy demand and rural electrification initiatives
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Strong economic growth in recent years has driven demand for energy by Côte d’Ivoire’s businesses and residents, leading the country to make substantial efforts to increase its generation capacity, upgrade ageing infrastructure and expand the electricity network. These developments have translated into increased investment from private companies, and the country hopes to continue this trend now that it is aiming to diversify the energy mix, which has traditionally relied on gas-fuelled and hydraulic…

Interview

Empowering communities: Marc Alberola, CEO, Eranove, on the role of the private sector and the impact of digitalisation
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Interview :Marc Alberola To what degree are private sector stakeholders involved in the implementation of the administration’s Energy Master Plan? MARC ALBEROLA: Since the creation of Compagnie Ivoirienne de Production d’Electricité (CIPREL) in 1994, the country’s first independent electricity producer, the private sector has been developing and exploiting power generation plants under build-own-operate contracts. Indeed, the state collaborates with several private players, with the…

Analysis

Diversifying the mix: Solar energy and biomass plants are targeted for development, alongside new dams, in an effort to increase energy capacity
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As Côte d’Ivoire seeks to increase its power generation capacity to 6000 MW by the year 2030, the country is also aiming to diversify its energy mix, which at present is exclusively comprised of hydroelectric and thermal sources. To meet its 2015 commitment made at the COP21 UN Conference on Climate Change in Paris to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2030, the government plans to invest in hydroelectric, biomass, solar and wind power in a bid to bring the proportion of renewable energy…

Analysis

On a roll: Three years into a restructuring programme, the state oil firm is gaining positive momentum
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In a bid to support the bottom line of state-owned oil producer Société Nationale d’Opérations Pétrolière de la Côte d’Ivoire (Petroci), the government decided to implement a financial and operational restructuring plan in 2015. A few years on and the strategy is bearing fruit, with Petroci set to post its third consecutive year of profits in 2018. Debts Weakened by the drop in international oil prices, Petroci lost 75% of its revenue in 2015, most of which came from oil production in…

Interview

Ready, steady: Jeff Quartermaine, CEO, Perseus Mining, on the potential of the gold mining industry and the role of private companies
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Interview : Jeff Quartermaine How can Côte d’Ivoire attract further foreign investment in the gold mining sector? JEFF QUARTERMAINE: The potential for new gold discoveries in C ô te d’Ivoire is very good. When coupled with government receptiveness to foreign investment, this augurs well for the growth of the local gold mining industry. One important criterion for international investors when evaluating the risks of entering a market is investment stability. A number of African countries have…

Overview

Unearthing potential: Mining sees growing interest with an improving legislative environment, despite low international minerals prices
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With a favourable mining code, yet largely untapped potential, Côte d’Ivoire has become an exploration hotspot in West Africa. In recent years many international companies have rushed to install operations, helping the country more than double gold production since 2012. However, having missed the booming mining years of the early 2000s due to political instability, Côte d’Ivoire is lagging behind its neighbours Ghana, Burkina Faso and Mali. In Ghana gold output was more than four times that…