The slow construction of a dam in Ivory Coast, between energy ambitions and disillusionment

At the bend in a laterite path, the curtain of greenery tears away to reveal a concrete wall. 140 kilometers northwest of Abidjan, the Singrobo-Ahouaty hydroelectric dam stands, austere and straight, above the peaceful waters of the Bandama River. Along its flanks, diversion canals wind like veins of cement. Once completed, they will carry water to the two turbines, each with a capacity of 22 megawatts. A modest, but precious, power for an Ivory Coast that aims to become "the energy reservoir of West Africa."

The Singrobo-Ahouaty dam is the first hydroelectric project to be financed by the private sector in West Africa, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB). It is based on a concession agreement signed in 2013 between the Ivorian government and the young company, Ivoire Hydro Energy (IHE), the developer of the site. Estimated at €174.5 million according to the AfDB, the project, which also involves several international donors, aims to provide electricity to 100 000 households and reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by 109,000 tonnes.

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