In brief
The Ivory Coast launches the Integrated Mineral Resources and Energy Policy, targeting $66 billion investment, 500,000 barrels of oil daily, 11,400 MW electricity, and 45% renewables by 2030. The plan emphasizes local processing, workforce development, and private‑sector funding, while balancing agriculture and environmental protection.
In Abidjan on Monday, President Alassane Ouattara’s administration rolled out the Integrated Mineral Resources and Energy Policy, or PIRME, a sweeping blueprint to mobilise 38 trillion CFA francs—about $66 billion—by 2040 for the country’s mining, oil and energy sectors. The aim is to lift the combined contribution of these industries to nearly 14 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product and establish them as a second pillar beside agriculture.
Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy Mamadou Sangafowa‑Coulibaly explained that the plan will largely rely on private‑sector investment, with an expected 88 percent of the total funding coming from non‑state actors and the remainder coming from the public budget. To keep the investment attractive, the policy promises significant infrastructure upgrades, including a new mineral port in San Pedro, railway lines for mineral transport, and a second oil refinery to be built at the port city.
Other key projects highlighted the government’s ambition to create a fully integrated value chain within the country. By 2035, Côte d’Ivoire intends to supply at least 95 percent of the goods and services needed for its extractive industries from local businesses, while ensuring that 95 percent of the workforce on oil platforms and at industrial mines is Ivorian. This focus on employment and supply‑chain localisation is meant to spur broader economic growth and reduce dependence on imports.
Oil production targets are also central to PIRME. The draft plan sets a goal of reaching 500,000 barrels per day by 2040, while the electricity mix is expected to grow to 11,400 megawatts of installed generation capacity by the same year.
Renewable energy will play a pivotal role in the country’s energy transition. The policy states that by 2030, electricity generation from renewable sources will make up at least 45 percent of the nation’s mix. This objective is part of a broader commitment to reduce carbon emissions while still providing the power needed for industrial expansion.
Mining targets are equally ambitious. PIRME calls for 150 tonnes of refined gold and the local processing of 1.25 million tonnes of manganese each year by 2040. The plan calls for the development of export and logistics infrastructure to support these outputs, nearly doubling the sector’s current capacity.
Since its adoption by the Council of Ministers on December 3, 2025, the policy has served as a coordinating framework for actions across the mining, petroleum and energy ministries. Official presentation on Monday marks a further step in bringing the plan to life, signaling a new era of resource development that balances economic growth with environmental stewardship and social inclusiveness.
Officials stressed that PIRME is built around ‘sustainability and inclusiveness, innovation and technology, economic integration, governance and transparency.’ By explicitly tying economic benefits to local participation and renewable energy, the strategy aims to reduce soil degradation, river contamination and deforestation associated with past mining practices while keeping the country’s agricultural base robust.
Economists note that a successful transition will require sustained private‑sector confidence, strong regulatory frameworks and robust enforcement of environmental standards. According to Minister Sangafowa‑Coulibaly, these are among the pillars that will sustain the growth of the sectors in line with national climate goals.
While critics have pointed to possible environmental risks, the government’s emphasis on local processing abilities and stringent environmental protections is designed to mitigate negative impacts. The PIRME framework also highlights the need for transparent and accountable governance, setting the stage for improved governance and decentralised oversight of resource extraction.
As the Ivory Coast launches this comprehensive roadmap, the international community and investors are watching closely to see how the balance of wealth creation and environmental protection will play out in a sector historically known for rapid growth but unevenly distributed benefits.
