Côte d'Ivoire officially launched its Integrated Mineral and Energy Policy (PIRME) on November 9, 2026, according to AllAfrica. Spearheaded by President Alassane Ouattara, the initiative demands 38,000 billion CFA francs in investments over a fifteen-year period. Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, the Minister of Mines, Petroleum, and Energy, presented the framework as a mechanism to fundamentally transform the national economy by leveraging extractive resources.
The policy seeks to elevate mining, oil, and electricity to become the country's second-largest economic driver by 2040, running parallel to agriculture. This goal requires doubling the sector's contribution to the gross domestic product, rising from 7% in 2025 to approximately 14% in 2040. The strategy relies on an integrated approach where mining, hydrocarbons, and power generation are developed jointly to create industrial synergies.
Specific production targets outline a rapid expansion of national capacity. Oil output is projected to increase from 80,000 barrels per day in 2026 to 500,000 barrels per day by 2040. Natural gas supply will rise from 320 million cubic feet per day to 1,000 million cubic feet per day. Additionally, electricity generation capacity will triple with an addition of 8,000 megawatts, supported by a new 6.1-million-metric-ton refinery planned for completion by 2032.
Infrastructure development is central to the plan's execution. The government intends to construct natural gas pipelines connecting Abidjan to Bouaké and San Pedro, alongside a 474-kilometer railway line between San Pedro and Man. These projects aim to reduce dependence on imports and establish Côte d'Ivoire as a West African energy hub. The policy also mandates high local content, requiring that 95% of the workforce consists of Ivorians and 95% of services are contracted to local companies.
To support domestic processing, the state will create the Ivorian Precious Metals Company (SIMEP) to refine gold locally. This move supports an ambition to become Africa's leading gold producer by 2035. The policy represents a shift from raw material exports to industrial processing, aiming to ensure that economic benefits directly support the Ivorian population and foster sustainable development.