Côte d'Ivoire - 44 MW Singrobo - Ahouaty Hydropower Project

The Singrobo-Ahouaty Hydropower Development Project on the Bandama River, addresses the Ivorian government’s concern to diversify the energy mix following an increase in thermal power generation in recent years. The Government of Côte d’Ivoire plans to invest heavily in the generation, transmission and distribution segments of the electric power sector and to implement an ambitious electrification programme for 2100 villages at a rate of 700 villages per year over a three-(3) year period. The country thus intends to increase its share of renewable energy from 15% to 42% by 2021. The project comprises the design, development, operation and transfer of a 44 MW hydroelectric plant and a 3.5 km transmission line and substation to evacuate the power generated onto an existing transmission line. It is operating under a 35-year concession agreement with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire (GoCI). The transaction supporting this project is a 15-year EUR 40 million loan to Ivoire Hydro Energy SAS (IHE) (previously Ivoire Hydro Energy SA). The loan, granted under the private sector window of the African Development Bank, also aims to promote and support Ivorian private entrepreneurship, through financial support and expertise provided to the local promoter of the hydroelectric power station. The project increases the proportion of renewable energies while improving the sector’s financial viability. Its implementation comprises two main components: (i) The primary installation comprising the main dam, the water intake structure, the spillway, power plant and tailrace channel; and (ii) Related infrastructure comprising transmission lines and the interconnection substation.