The country’s energy ministry forecasts that by 2035, Ivory Coast could rank among the continent’s top five oil producers, with crude output expected to reach at least 500,000 barrels per day and natural gas production hitting 1 million cubic feet per day according to Bloomberg.
Planning and Development Minister Kaba Nialé highlighted that a “strong increase” in fossil-fuel production could raise oil output to at least 200,000 barrels per day by 2027–2028, potentially accelerating economic growth to 7.2% by 2030 from an average of 6.5% between 2021 and 2025.
During an interview with the African Development Bank at a conference in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, Nialé said, “We can achieve a much stronger growth rate in the coming five years.”
She added that a “strong increase” in fossil-fuel production is expected to raise oil output to at least 200,000 barrels per day by 2027–2028.
The move has attracted major global energy players, including Eni SpA, Houston-based Vaalco Energy Inc., and Brazil’s Petrobras, reflecting confidence in the country’s pro-investment policy.
Africa’s Push for Energy Independence and Revenue Diversification
Nations such as Nigeria, Angola, Namibia, and Senegal are similarly scaling up oil and gas projects to strengthen energy security and retain more value on the continent.
For Ivory Coast, the pivot toward hydrocarbons marks a strategic effort to diversify beyond cocoa, where it is the world’s largest producer. The government sees the energy sector as a catalyst for long-term stability, new industrial opportunities, and insulation from agricultural price swings.
The country’s energy ministry forecasts that by 2035, Ivory Coast could rank among Africa’s top five oil producers, with crude output expected to reach at least 500,000 barrels per day and natural-gas production hitting 1 million cubic feet per day.
This expanding energy frontier supported by private investment and a pro-development policy approach highlights Ivory Coast’s ambition not only to grow faster, but to secure a more resilient and diversified economic future.