Côte d'Ivoire has inaugurated its first solar power plant in the country's town of Boundiali.
According to the country's energy minister, Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly, the plant will "improve the quality of service for more than 430,000 households." Here are some facts about the site, phase 1 of which has just been completed:
It currently has a capacity of 37.5 MW, but the project will be expanded to 83 MW;
The project is part of the country's desire to achieve 45% renewable energy in its energy mix by 2030;
It will allow the West African nation to save 60,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Currently, two-thirds of Côte d'Ivoire's electricity production comes from thermal energy, with the rest coming mainly from hydroelectric dams.
In November 2023, another West African country, Niger, also launched the country's largest solar power plant, French media reported.