INTERVIEW
TT: Thank you very much, sir. CIE has been a main player in the electricity environment for over 25 years. What does this success mean for you, and how do you tap into these opportunities for the country?
AB: We believe that what has been achieved in Ivory Coast over the last 30 years is impressive, and we’ve tried to play our part in this journey. It’s a great platform to share what has been accomplished with other players in the market. At the same time, we want to hear from others because there are areas where we need to improve. It’s good to have an African platform where we can exchange ideas with other operators, suppliers, and governments to learn and improve.
TT: The future of the electricity market—how do you see it evolving, especially regarding technologies like smart meters and AI? Could you explain the vision for embracing digital innovation?
AB: I’d rather use the word present than future. As of now, we already have several million digital meters installed. For example, 75% of our clients are using prepaid digital meters, and about 10% are on distance metering, which doesn’t require sending staff on the ground.
We are generating billions of data points actively used by our engineers and data scientists. We are already leveraging AI for fraud detection. With digital meters, we can identify usage patterns to detect irregularities and improve performance.
Looking ahead, we’re focusing on adding more sensors to the network to monitor and better manage it, enabling us to plan for growth efficiently. We are actively working on this and coaching some of our staff with international partners.
TT: On sustainability—you’ve integrated solar power into your energy mix and developed microgrids. What are your plans for solar power, and what challenges do you foresee?
AB: In Ivory Coast, we operate the network and advise the government on strategy. The target is to reach 45% renewable energy by 2030. Currently, we’re slightly above 30%. This growth will be a mix of solar and hydro, as Ivory Coast has significant hydro potential.
Solar does present technical challenges. The more solar you integrate; the more balancing and network management are required. However, we’re aggressively working toward this goal.
TT: How are you addressing energy accessibility within the country?
AB: There are two main issues. First, extending the physical network to cities, and second, enabling people to connect to it. Ivory Coast’s government launched the ProElectricity program, and today, 95% of cities with populations over 500 have access to electricity. By next year, this work will be almost complete.
The next step is connecting individuals. Through the Electricity for All program, the connection cost has been reduced from $200 to just $2, with the remaining cost spread over 5–10 years. This program has been a massive success, enabling almost half of Ivory Coast’s population to access electricity.
TT: The growth has been impressive. Can you share some numbers and explain what makes Ivory Coast’s model successful compared to other African countries?
AB: In 2011, 2,000 cities were connected to the grid. Today, we’re close to 8,000—going from 25% access to almost 95% in just 13 years.
On connections, we used to add 100,000 clients per year. This year, we added 500,000 new clients, and next year, we aim for 650,000. To meet this demand, we’re expanding capacity while maintaining a focus on green energy.
What’s made this possible is a combination of clear government vision, specialized programs, and involvement of private players like us. For example, our distribution losses are only 8%, compared to the global best of 3–4%, and our collection rate is 98%. This efficiency ensures the system works sustainably.
TT: Do you have a wheeling policy in place, as seen in markets like South Africa?
AB: Yes, the law allows for excess power produced at a facility to be bought back by the government. Pricing and technical conditions are still being established. Additionally, taxes on renewable capacity installations have been eliminated, encouraging more production.
TT: Many African utilities struggle with high losses and inefficiencies. How are you supporting your counterparts in other countries?
AB: As a private player, we’re open to collaborations. For example, we’re currently working with Benin’s government to improve their utility’s performance. Our team of 10 people is helping them transform operations and achieve better results. We’re happy to share our expertise where needed.
TT: Thank you very much.
AB: Thank you.
