EDF, Meridiam and SIFCA have laid the foundation stone of the largest biomass power plant in West Africa. Located in the Aboisso municipality, around 100 km East of Abidjan, the 46 MW plant will use agricultural waste. It forms part of the 2014-2030 National Action Plan for Renewable Energy established by Côte d’Ivoire, which has set a 45% target of renewable sources in its energy mix by 2030.
The project is based on the circular economy ideal and will have major social spin-offs: the plant construction works will create at least 500 local jobs. And the purchase of the biomass required for plant operation will generate new income for nearly 12 000 farmers in the region, over a period of 25 years. It will also save 4.5 million tons of CO2 emissions over that period and is expected to enhance the reliability of the electricity system.
Under the umbrella of the Ivorian company Biovera Energie EDF (40%), Meridiam (36%) and SIFCA (24%) have co-developed this pilot project, which beneficiates from the long-term commitment of financial partners such as the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) through its subsidiary Proparco, and the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) operating under its subsidiary, the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF).
This power plant is due to be commissioned at the end of 2025. The consortium is already planning to replicate it in other agricultural production areas in Côte d’Ivoire.
