The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire is a country in West Africa. It is commonly known in English as Ivory Coast. It has an area of 322,462 square kilometres (124,503 sq mi), and borders the nations Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea.

The country\'s people was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be 20,617,068 in 2009. Côte d\'Ivoire\'s initial national census in 1975 counted 6.7 million inhabitants. Prior to its colonization by Europeans, Côte d\'Ivoire was home to several states, inclunding Gyaaman, the Kong Empire, and Baoulé. There were two Anyi kingdoms, Indénié and Sanwi, which attempted to retain their separate identity through the French colonial period and next Côte d\'Ivoire\'s independence. An 1843–1844 treaty made Côte d\'Ivoire a "protectorate" of France and in 1893, it became a French colony as part of the European scramble for Africa.

Côte d\'Ivoire became independent on 7 August 1960. From 1960 to 1993, the country was led by Félix Houphouët-Boigny. It maintained close political and economic association with its West African neighbours, while at the same time maintaining close ties to the West, particularly to France. Since the end of Houphouët-Boigny\'s policy, Côte d\'Ivoire has experienced one coup d’état, in 1999, and a civil war, which broke out in 2002. A political agreement between the government and the rebels brought a return to peace. Côte d\'Ivoire is a republic with a strong executive power invested in the President. Its de jure capital is Yamoussoukro and the biggest city is the port city of Abidjan. The country is divided into 19 regions and 81 departments.

It is a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, African Union, La Francophonie, Latin Union, Economic Community of West African States and South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone. The official language is French, although a lot of of the local languages are widely used, inclunding Baoulé, Dioula, Dan, Anyin and Cebaara Senufo. The major religions are Islam, Christianity (primarily Roman Catholic) and various indigenous religions. Through production of coffee and cocoa, the country was an economic powerhouse during the 1960s and 1970s in West Africa.

However, Côte d\'Ivoire went through an economic crisis in the 1980s, leading to the country\'s period of political and social turmoil. The 21st century Ivoirian economy is largely market-based and relies heavily on agriculture, with smallholder cash crop production being dominant.

Introduction

Côte d’Ivoire relies on oil, natural gas and hydropower to satisfy energy consumption request. In addition to satisfying domestic request, Côte d’Ivoire’s oil exports bolster in general economic activity in the country, and represents 28 % of the country’s total export revenue. According to the World Bank, oil exports have surpassed cocoa exports, which traditionally have been the mainstay of Cote d’Ivoire’s economy. Côte d’Ivoire’s oil production, which is primarily located offshore, should increase slightly in 2007 and 2008.

Energy studies

The country is member of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) which works under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and is charged with managing the cooperation of the national electric utilities by designing a framework of cooperation, regulating the power pooling; and determining the level of participation of each utility.

Among the priorities of WAPP is the Nigeria –Benin – Togo – Ghana – Ivory Coast interconnection. This interconnection, once completed, will have a great impact on the power supply throughout the region.

Energy debates

Several private enterprises are becoming involved in rural electrification after securing the approval of SOPIE, the principal contractor for the provision of electrical facilities. Several projects (development of household wastes, sustainable forest management etc.) are currently evaluated to classify them as projects liable to be funded within the opportunities provided by the clean development mechanism (MDP).

Role of government

Ministry of Mines and Energy

The Ministry of Mines and Energy, through its technical body named the Office for the Promotion of Energy Efficiency (Bureau des Économies d’Énergie) and through the Sub-Directorate of Energy Control and Renewable Energies (Sous-Direction de la Maîtrise de l’Énergie et des Énergies Renouvelables), ensures the promotion of energy efficiency actions and RE development actions. For this purpose, the two bodies jointly carry out the following actions:

• Monitoring of the “Improved Stoves Popularization Program”,
• Monitoring of power billing for public buildings in consultation with the Laboratory of Construction and Civil Engineering (Laboratoire du Bâtiment et des Travaux Publics) of the Ministry of Economic Infrastructures,
• Monitoring of the use of residues in some industrial companies,
• Monitoring of the activities of charcoal producers in cooperation with the National Centre for Agricultural Research (Centre National de Recherche Agronomique) of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research,
• Monitoring of experimental solar stations in cooperation with the Research Institute on Renewable Energies of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry also ensures control of wood and charcoal sub-sectors. The Ministry of Higher Education and Research coordinates the activities of the research centres involved in the energy sector, i.e. the Research Institute on Renewable Energies (IREN), the Tropical Technology Institute (Institut de Technologie Tropicale – I2T) and the National Centre for Agricultural Research (CNRA).

Oil

Production

Côte d’Ivoire’s oil production increased from 56,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) in 2005 to 89,000 bbl/d in 2006. New fields coming online, inclunding field enhancement work allowed for the increasing oil production. Production is estimate to increase slightly over the next 2-year period, with the possibility of reaching 110,000 bbl/d by 2008. According to estimates by Oil and Gas Journal (OGJ), Côte d'Ivoire had 100 million barrels of proven crude oil reserves as of January 2007. The vast majority of reserves are located offshore in shallow marine areas and in deep offshore waters.

Exports

In 2006, Côte d’Ivoire consumed 22,000 bbl/d and exported approximately 67,000 bbl/d of crude oil. According to official trade statistics as reported to the World Trade Atlas , Western Europe imported over 50 % of the country’s crude exports, with the majority going to Germany (16,000 bbl/d) and France (10,000 bbl/d). The United States imported 5,000 bbl/d of crude oil from Côte d’Ivoire in 2006. A ccording to FACTs World Energy, China imported 3,000 bbl/d. Côte d’Ivoire’s crude export blends are primarily medium and sweet with an API of 33°.

Field Development and Exploration

In August 2005, Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) brought its Baobab oil field onstream, with initial production averaging 48,000 bbl/d. According to IHS Energy GEPS Reports, Baobab achieved peak production of 52,000 bbl/d during the first quarter of 2006. However, due to sand control problems, Baobab was producing only 25,000 bbl/d during the later half of 2006. The offshore field is located in Block CI-40. CNR is operator of the block with a 57.6 % interest and is joined with partners Svenska Petroleum Exploration (27.4 %), and Petroci (15 %). CNR as well operators the Espoir field, which is located in Block CI-26. In 2006, the Espoir field produced an average of 31,000 bbl/d of oil. The field has a life expectancy of 20 to 25 years, with production expected to peak at 35,000 bbl/d of oil. The West Espoir field began producing in mid-2006 and is expected to peak at around 13,000 bbl/d of oil in 2007. CNR holds 58.7 % interest in Block CI-26 and is joined with partners Tullow Oil (21.3 %) and Petrosi (20 %).

Devon Energy Corporation operates the Lion and Panthere fields on Block CI-11, which, according to IHS Energy GEPS Reports, netted the company 3,600 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) in 2006. Devon's partners on Block CI-11 include Petroci, Pluspetrol of Argentina, and International Finance Corporation. In addition to Block CI-11, Devon holds interests (ranging from 35 % to 80 %) in several other blocks in Côte d'Ivoire. As of April 2007, Devon was considering selling its Côte d’Ivoire interests.

Refining and Downstream

According to OGJ, Côte d'Ivoire's refinery, the SIR refinery, has refining capacity of 65,200 bbl/d and is located in Abidjan. An oil pipeline connects the SIR refinery to the Lion and Panther fields. The national currently owns 47.3 % of SIR, and expects to retain a 10 % interest if privatization occurs in the next. Burkina Faso owns a 5.39 % stake in SIR, and Total, Shell, ExxonMobil and Chevron own the remainder. A petroleum products depot, adjacent to SIR, stores petroleum products for domestic use inclunding for export. The depot is owned by the Société de Gestion des Stocks Petroliers de Côte d'Ivoire (Gestoci) and supplies products to Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad. Gestoci as well operates fuel depots in Bouake and Yamoussoukro.

Sector Organization

In 1975, Côte d’Ivoire established the Société Nationale d'Operations Pétrolières de la Côte d'Ivoire (Petroci) to oversee the country’s oil operations. In 1998, the government re-structured Petroci by dividing it into entities, which include: Petroci Holding (responsible for portfolio management of the oil sector), Petroci Exploration-Production (responsible for upstream hydrocarbon activities), Petroci-Gaz (responsible for the natural gas sector), and Petroci Industries-Services (responsible for amount other related services). Foreign companies involved in Côte d’Ivoire’s oil sector include CNR, Dana Petroleum (U.K.), Devon Energy (U.S.), Oil India, Pluspetrol (Argentina), Sinopec (China), and Tullow Oil.

Natural Gas

As of January 1, 2004, Côte d'Ivoire had installed electric generation capacity of 919 megawatts (MW). In 2004, Côte d’Ivoire generated 4.6 billion kilowatt-hours (Bkwh) of electricity, while consuming 3.2 Bkwh. The majority of electricity is generated through conventional thermal stations (60 %), with hydroelectricity comprising the remainder (40 %). The 288-MW Azito power station, brought online in 1999, is located in Abidjan's suburbs and produces additional than a third of the country's power. The phased construction of a third turbine in Azito has been delayed pending a rise in domestic and regional request for electricity through the West African Power Pool (WAPP). Côte d’Ivoire’s major hydroelectric plants include Ayame I and II, Kossou, Taabo, Buyo and Grah.

According to 2007 estimates by OGJ, Côte d'Ivoire had trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven natural gas reserves. Although exploration teams first discovered natural gas in Côte d'Ivoire in the 1980s, it was not until the mid-1990s that companies began to develop the resource. In 2004, Côte d'Ivoire produced 46 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas, amount for domestic consumption. Côte d’Ivoire primarily uses its natural gas in the generation of electricity.

Côte d'Ivoire’s major producing natural gas field is the Foxtrot field in offshore Block CI-27. According to IHS Energy, Foxtrot contains estimated natural gas reserves in place of 950 Bcf, and the field produced around 30 Bcf in 2005. The Block is operated by Foxtrot International (24 % interest) and partners include Petroci (40 %), SECI; a member of the Bouygues group of France (24 %), and Energie de Côte d'Ivoire (Enerci); a joint venture of Gaz de France and EdF Group (12 %).

CNR operates the Espoir field, which is located offshore in Block CI-26. CNR estimates Espoir's proven natural gas reserves to be 150 billion cubic feet (Bcf). CNR announced that development of the West Espoir field began in mid-2005, with first production online in July 2006. CNR holds 58.7 % interest in the block and is joined with partners Tullow Oil (21.3 %) and Petrosi (20 %).

Electricity

As of January 1, 2004, Côte d'Ivoire had installed electric generation capacity of 919 megawatts (MW). In 2004, Côte d’Ivoire generated 4.6 billion kilowatt-hours (Bkwh) of electricity, while consuming 3.2 Bkwh. The majority of electricity is generated through conventional thermal stations (60 %), with hydroelectricity comprising the remainder (40 %). The 288-MW Azito power station, brought online in 1999, is located in Abidjan's suburbs and produces additional than a third of the country's power. The phased construction of a third turbine in Azito has been delayed pending a rise in domestic and regional request for electricity through the West African Power Pool (WAPP). Côte d’Ivoire’s major hydroelectric plants include Ayame I and II, Kossou, Taabo, Buyo and Grah.

Overview data for Cote dIvoire (IvoryCoast)

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Petroleum (Thousand Barrels per Day)			Previous Year					Latest Year
Total Oil Production	Production of crude oil (including lease condensate), natural gas plant liquids, and other liquids, and refinery processing gain (loss). Negative value indicates refinery processing loss.	(1980-2012)	40.24	9,369	87,483	65		38.56
Crude Oil Production	Includes lease condensate.	(1980-2012)	39.59	8,572	74,141	58		37.92
Consumption	Consumption of petroleum products and direct combustion of crude oil.	(1980-2012)	28.00	3,297	88,662	101		23.64 E
Estimated Petroleum Net Exports	Net Exports = Total Oil Production – Consumption. Negative numbers are Net Imports.	(1980-2012)	12.24	6,072	--	147		14.92
Refinery Capacity	Crude oil distillation capacity as of January 1. Sources: U.S. data from EIA; Other countries from Oil & Gas Journal.	(1980-2012)	64	3,220	88,097	83		64
Proved Reserves(Billion Barrels)	As of January 1. Sources: U.S. data from EIA; Other countries from Oil & Gas Journal.	(1981-2013)	0.10	124	1,526	65		0.10
Natural Gas (Billion Cubic Feet)			Previous Year					Latest Year
		History	Cote dIvoire (IvoryCoast)	Africa	World	Rank		Cote dIvoire (IvoryCoast)
Production	Dry natural gas.	(1980-2011)	52.97	7,373	111,954	60		52.97
Consumption	Dry natural gas.	(1980-2011)	52.97	3,558	113,321	83		52.97
Net Export/Imports(-)	Net Exports = Exports - Imports. Negative numbers are Net Imports. Note: Data range begins with the year 1990.	(1990-2011)	0.00	3,813	--	64		0.00
Proved Reserves (Trillion Cubic Feet)	As of January 1. Sources: U.S. data from EIA; Other countries from Oil & Gas Journal.	(1982-2013)	1.00	546	6,845	66		1.00
Coal (Million Short Tons)			Previous Year					Latest Year
		History	Cote dIvoire (IvoryCoast)	Africa	World	Rank		Cote dIvoire (IvoryCoast)
Production	Production of primary coal (includes anthracite, bituminous, lignite, and for Estonia, oil shale).	(1980-2011)	0.000	286	7,934	66		0.000
Consumption	Consumption of primary coal (includes anthracite, bituminous, lignite, and for Estonia, oil shale) and net imports of metallurgical coke.	(1980-2011)	0.000	223	7,751	113		0.000
Net Export/Imports(-)	Net Exports = Exports – Imports. Negative numbers are Net Imports. Includes primary coal and metallurgical coke.	(1980-2011)	0.000	64	--	85		0.000
Electricity (Billion Kilowatthours)			Previous Year					Latest Year
		History	Cote dIvoire (IvoryCoast)	Africa	World	Rank		Cote dIvoire (IvoryCoast)
Net Generation	Fossil fuel generation, hydroelectric power, nuclear electric power, and geothermal, solar, wind, and wood and waste electric power generation.	(1980-2010)	5.66	594	19,083	111		5.72
Net Consumption	Net generation+electricty imports-electricity exports-electricity distribution losses.	(1980-2010)	3.71	530	17,360	119		3.87
Installed Capacity (GWe)	One billion watts or one thousand megawatts of electric capacity, as of January 1.	(1980-2010)	1.22	130	4,843	117		1.22
Total Primary Energy (Quadrillion Btu)			Previous Year					Latest Year
		History	Cote dIvoire (IvoryCoast)	Africa	World	Rank		Cote dIvoire (IvoryCoast)
Production	Production of petroleum (crude oil and natural gas plant liquids), dry natural gas, and coal, and net generation of hydroelectric, nuclear, and geothermal, solar, wind, and wood and waste electric power.	(1980-2010)	.203	36	487	85		0.164
Consumption	Consumption of petroleum, dry natural gas, and coal, and net hydroelectric, nuclear, and geothermal, solar, wind, and wood and waste electricity. Also includes net electricty imports.	(1980-2010)	0.130	16	488	112		0.124
Energy Intensity (Btu per 2005 U.S. Dollars)	Consumption per dollar of gross domestic product using purchasing power parities.	(1980-2010)	2,924	5,405	7,461	158		2,700
Carbon Dioxide Emissions (Million Metric Tons of CO₂)			Previous Year					Latest Year
		History	Cote dIvoire (IvoryCoast)	Africa	World	Rank		Cote dIvoire (IvoryCoast)
Total from Consumption of Fossil Fuels	Emissions from the consumption of petroleum, natural gas, and coal and the flaring of natural gas.	(1980-2011)	6.62	1,155	31,502	117		6.68