A number of senior regional leaders were in Abidjan on 27 November for the opening of the International Exhibition for Extractive and Energy Resources in Ivory Coast (Sirexe) – an event Côte d’Ivoire has been promoting to bring investment into renewable energy (RE) and other electricity supply projects, hydrocarbons schemes and major minerals plays.
Among those leading delegations to Abidjan were Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima, whose Ivorian counterpart Tiémoko Meyliet Koné opened Sirexe with a speech emphasising the need to diversify economic growth “through the judicious exploitation of the extractive and economic resources that our continent is full of”.
Koné gave the opening address, although President Alassane Dramane Ouattara was in attendance.
On the mining front, Koné observed that CdI’s gold output had quadrupled in the past decade, while the government was now emphasising efforts to drive investment into critical minerals – all of which will require increased electricity supply.
Among others visiting Abidjan was Sonatrach president director-general Rachid Hachichi. The Algerian state hydrocarbons company chief was invited by Ivorian mines, oil and energy minister Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, who also spoke to Algerian energy and mines minister Mohammed Arkab before the event.
Sangafowa-Coulibaly told the conference opening that Sirexe 2024 had registered more than 300 exhibitors and 1,500 delegates from some 50 countries. The event runs until 2 December at the Parc des Expositions in Abidjan.
