On Friday, July 3, 2026, Côte d’Ivoire inaugurated the Ferké Solar Power Plant in Sokoro 2, a 52 MWp (megawatt-peak) photovoltaic facility. The inauguration ceremony was led by Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defence, Téné Birahima Ouattara, alongside Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly.
Covering 70 hectares and equipped with 73,341 next-generation photovoltaic panels, Ferké Solar is the second solar power plant of its kind in Côte d’Ivoire, following the commissioning of the Boundiali solar plant. Built at a cost of CFA 41 billion, the facility will generate approximately 90 GWh of clean electricity annually, supplying power to thousands of households while preventing 39,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year—more than one million tonnes over its operational lifetime.
According to Téné Birahima Ouattara, the new plant will positively impact more than 370,000 households. He emphasized that the project will provide reliable electricity to homes, schools, healthcare facilities, and businesses, describing access to energy as a driver of progress, dignity, opportunity, and greater autonomy.
He also highlighted the strategic importance of the project for both the Tchologo Region and the country as a whole. The solar plant is expected to lower energy costs, accelerate rural electrification, create employment opportunities—particularly for young people—strengthen Côte d’Ivoire’s energy sovereignty, and promote sustainable and inclusive development.
The Minister further praised the project as another example of President Alassane Ouattara’s commitment to improving the living conditions of Ivorians. He noted that the country's electricity access rate has increased from 33.1% in 2011 to more than 90% today.
During the ceremony, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, reaffirmed the government's objective of increasing the share of renewable energy to 46.3% of the national energy mix by 2035.
He announced that several additional solar power plants are planned for Korhogo, Katiola, Tengréla, Bouna, Kong, Bondoukou, Dabakala, Touba, and other regions across the country. The government's ambition is to increase Côte d’Ivoire’s installed solar capacity to more than 1,300 MW by 2035.
The Minister also called on technical and financial partners to continue supporting the country by financing strategic energy projects aimed at providing Côte d’Ivoire and the wider West African region with abundant, reliable, high-quality, and affordable electricity.