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Ivory Coast is moving closer to its goal of energy independence with help from Malagasy businessman Hassanein Hiridjee’s AXIAN Energy, which is supporting the €50 million ($58 million) Kong Solaire solar project. While construction continues, the effort marks an important step in the country’s plan to boost renewable power.
The Kong Solaire plant, located in the Tchologo region, is being built by a consortium that includes AXIAN Energy, Amos Holding, and InfraCo, the infrastructure development arm of PIDG. Financing comes from the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO).
Expanding access to clean power
When completed, the facility will cover about 80 hectares and have a capacity of 50 megawatts. It is expected to generate roughly 98 gigawatt-hours of electricity a year—enough to supply more than 240,000 homes.
“We are proud to bring this project to life for Côte d’Ivoire,” said Benjamin Memmi, chief executive officer of AXIAN Energy. “Kong Solaire reflects our belief that Africa can chart its own energy future—one that is sustainable, inclusive, and dependable.”
Private sector takes the lead
Kong Solaire is one of the country’s first privately backed solar power plants. The project shows how partnerships between governments and private investors are helping build new models for clean energy across the region. Stakeholders say the goal is to draw more private capital into renewable infrastructure and encourage similar developments across West Africa.
Minkaïla Salami, CEO of Africa Via, said the collaboration reflects a sense of shared purpose. “We are committed to building solutions that meet people’s needs and strengthen local economies,” he said. Omar Jabri, head of business development at PIDG, noted that the project supports Côte d’Ivoire’s plan to raise renewables to 45 percent of its energy mix by 2030.
AXIAN Group’s growing reach
AXIAN Group, led by Hiridjee, operates in six African countries with investments spanning energy, finance, telecommunications and real estate. Under his leadership AXIAN has become Madagascar’s largest power producer and an advocate for sustainable business practices.
AXIAN Energy currently manages roughly 150 megawatts of renewable energy and has over 1 gigawatt in development. In recent months, it partnered on a $53 million solar venture in Benin and invested $3.5 million in Nucleon Security, a Paris-based cybersecurity firm—moves that signal AXIAN’s broader push to grow its footprint across Africa and beyond.
