The African Development Bank (AfDB) has recently granted a loan of about 41 billion CFA francs (€62.35 million) to Côte d'Ivoire. The funds are intended to finance the electrification of 1,388 rural localities in the country. It is the first phase of the project to strengthen the electricity system and access to electricity (Proser I).

In Côte d’Ivoire, the Project for the Strengthening of Electrical System Works and Access to Electricity (Proser) launched this year is gradually taking shape. On Wednesday, March 25, 2020, the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved a loan of about 41 billion CFA francs (€62.35 million) to finance the first phase of this project (Proser I). This involves connecting 1,388 rural localities in the country’s 11 districts, including Comoé, Denguelé, Lakes, Lagoons, Mountains, Sassandra, Woroba, Savanes, Bandama Valley, Yamoussoukro and Zanzan to the electricity grid. Approximately 797,000 inhabitants will benefit from the electrification project.

At least 4 years of work

“Proser I” provides for the construction of 6,460 km of 33 kV power lines, the construction of 3,419 km of low-voltage lines and the installation of 1,394 rural distribution substations. In addition, 11 transmission substations will be secured to ensure the continuous supply of electricity to the population. Part of the AfDB loan will be allocated to the Electricity for All Programme (EFPT) of Côte d’Ivoire, which has been launched in June 2019 in the Indénié-Djuablin region. The programme, which will be completed during the course of this year, will enable about 114,000 households to benefit from electricity.

The “Proser” project is part of the National Rural Electrification Programme (Proner) which aims, among other things, to strengthen the country’s energy capacity and improve the living conditions of the population. The second phase of the “Proser” project will consist of strengthening 11 electricity transmission substations in Côte d’Ivoire.