In brief
Côte d’Ivoire’s Integrated Mineral Resources and Energy Policy (PIRME) launches a $66 billion initiative aimed at boosting mining, oil and electricity to 14% of GDP by 2040. The plan anchors on private‑sector funding, new ports and railways, and ambitious production goals, while stressing local processing and workforce development.
In a morning ceremony on 10 November 2026, the Ivorian government presented the Integrated Mineral Resources and Energy Policy – PIRME – in Abidjan to the world. The document, crafted by the Council of Ministers, proposes that the country mobilise 38 trillion CFA francs—about US$66 billion—by 2040 to pursue a broad development of its mining, oil and energy sectors. The ministries say the program will double the combined contribution of those industries to the national GDP, bringing it up to roughly 14%.
Central to PIRME is the expectation that the private sector will shoulder 88% of the investment, with the state covering the remainder. The plan identifies the construction of a mineral port in San Pedro and new railway lines designed to move ore and minerals as key early projects. A second oil refinery in the port city is also slated for completion under the programme and is expected to advance local processing and add depth to the supply chain. The government highlighted the policy’s intent to strengthen the capacity of local companies to participate in the industrial value chain.
Oil and Energy Production Targets
Oil production is set to climb from its 2026 baseline to 500,000 barrels per day by 2040, a target that would place the country among Africa’s larger petroleum producers. In parallel, the country’s electrical grid is expected to reach 11,400 MW of installed capacity by 2040. In the electricity mix, the policy explicitly calls for renewable sources to account for at least 45% of power generation by 2030, a shift that officials say will leverage the country’s wind and solar potential and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
The PIRME blueprint stresses that the increase in energy output should be paired with the development of local industries. For example, the country aims to open a second refinery that can process petroleum in ways that keep more value‑added work and supervision within national borders. In the mining sector, the plan sets technical targets such as the production of 150 tonnes of refined gold and the local processing of 1.25 million tonnes of manganese per year.
Workforce, Local Processing and Sustainability Goals
By 2035, PIRME’s draft outlines that at least 95% of the workforce on oil platforms and industrial mines will be Ivorian nationals, and that local companies will meet at least 95% of the supply‑chain needs for the extractive industry. The policy therefore places a strong emphasis on workforce development and skills training for the local population.
Equally, the government highlights sustainability and environmental protection. The policy calls for measures to balance resource exploitation with the maintenance of agricultural landscapes and the safeguarding of natural water resources. Throughout the document, the ministry reiterates that the economic boost from mining and energy should not come at the expense of biodiversity or the livelihoods of rural communities dependent on farming.
Complementing those policy aims, Ivorian researchers in Abidjan and the surrounding regions have unveiled small‑scale technology solutions designed to mitigate damage caused by illegal gold mining. The kit focuses on cleaning polluted groundwater, restoring farmland that has been degraded by artisanal operations, and moving impacted communities toward more viable employment opportunities. These efforts complement PIRME’s larger ambition to develop a cleaner, locally controlled mining sector.
The presentation of PIRME follows its adoption at the Council of Ministers on 3 December 2025, and the policy now moves into its implementation phase. While the government affirms the private sector’s central role, it also signals an intention to ensure that the value chain stays domestic, a stance that will likely shape investor confidence in the next fiscal cycle.
Across the country, local communities in San Pedro, near the new port, and in areas around the projected railway routes are watching the implementation of PIRME with both cautious optimism and scrutiny. These regions, already experiencing disruptions from existing mining operations, are hopeful that the new infrastructure and protective measures will bring meaningful employment and reduce environmental impacts.
As the world watches Côte d’Ivoire’s shift toward a dual‑pillar economy—agriculture and extracted resources—industry analysts anticipate that the success of PIRME will set a precedent for other West African economies seeking to align resource extraction with sustainable development goals.