In brief
The government unveiled an Integrated Mineral Resources and Energy Policy that seeks to mobilise 38 trillion CFA francs (~$66 billion) by 2040, aiming for a 14 % share of GDP from mining and energy. The plan includes ambitious production targets, local processing, and renewable energy goals, while addressing environmental damage from illegal gold mining through new local technologies.
Côte d’Ivoire announced a new mining and energy plan on Monday that aims to pull the two industries into its main source of growth. The Integrated Mineral Resources and Energy Policy, or PIRME, calls for 38 trillion CFA francs ($66 billion) of investment by 2040 to raise the combined contribution of mining, oil and energy to almost 14 % of the country’s GDP.
Minister Mamadou Sangafowa‑Coulibaly said the government expects private investors to fund 88 % of the total money, with the state covering the rest. The policy lists key projects, including a new mineral port in San Pedro, a railway line for transporting ore and a second oil refinery at the same harbour.
By 2040 the target is 500,000 barrels of oil per day and 11,400 megawatts of electricity. Renewable generation is to make up at least 45 % of the mix by 2030, while the mining side aims for 150 tonnes of refined gold and 1.25 million tonnes of processed manganese each year. Local companies are to supply 95 % of the goods and services for mines and oil sites, with 95 % of workers being nationals by 2035.
The same day, a memorandum of understanding covering the mining and energy sectors was signed on 31 July 2026 in Gaborone during the launch of SIREXE, according to the African Mining Market. The deal is part of the government’s push to improve infrastructure and technology for production.
Illegal gold mining remains a major problem, hitting 29 of the country’s 31 regions and costing the economy billions of CFA dollars in lost revenue and health risks. Local scientists are developing technology to detect heavy metals in water and restore contaminated farmland.
Bernard Ossey Yapo, director of the Ivorian Anti‑Pollution Center (CIAPOL), explained the impact of illegal mining:
"With annual tax losses estimated at 744 billion FCFA and gold extracted outside official channels valued at 4,600 billion FCFA, the scale of the problem is prompting calls for solutions that go beyond closing illegal mining sites and prosecuting offenders."
He noted that mining activities have raised sediment levels in rivers to 12,030 milligrams per litre and introduced heavy metals such as lead, chromium and arsenic into the environment, while the use of cyanide and mercury remains widespread.
The PIRME framework was adopted by the Council of Ministers on December 3, 2025, and the policy’s official presentation on Monday marks a further step in its implementation, according to Xinhua.