OPEC Fund, AfDB Deepen Sustainable Energy Partnership to Drive Africa’s Long-Term Development

The OPEC Fund for International Development has begun an official mission to Côte d’Ivoire, led by its President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, aimed at deepening strategic cooperation with the African Development Bank Group and advancing joint efforts to support sustainable development across the African continent.

A key highlight of the visit was the AfDB–OPEC Fund Partnership Day held at the AfDB’s headquarters, which brought together senior leadership from both institutions to reinforce collaboration and align development priorities. During the engagement, President Alkhalifa and AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah held bilateral discussions and signed an amendment to their existing Memorandum of Understanding, further strengthening the framework for cooperation across public and private sector operations, co-financing initiatives, and knowledge exchange.

Speaking during the visit, President Alkhalifa said Africa remains central to the OPEC Fund’s mission, adding that the partnership with the AfDB has evolved into a more strategic and impact-driven collaboration focused on accelerating project delivery and supporting country-led development priorities. He noted that closer cooperation would help scale solutions and deliver stronger outcomes for communities across the continent.

The OPEC Fund and the AfDB have partnered for nearly five decades, jointly supporting around 120 projects across sectors including energy, transport, agriculture, water, health, education, and finance, with total co-financing of approximately US$1.5 billion.

The mission also highlights the partnership’s emphasis on implementation and tangible results. As part of the visit, President Alkhalifa is touring the Atinkou Power Plant, a 390 MW combined-cycle gas facility in Côte d’Ivoire. The project, co-financed with international development partners including the AfDB, has strengthened the country’s baseload power supply by replacing inefficient generation capacity and delivering reliable electricity to households and industries.

In addition, President Alkhalifa is expected to participate in a high-level consultation between the Arab Coordination Group and the AfDB, aimed at enhancing coordination among development partners and supporting Africa’s long-term growth and economic resilience.