Ivory Coast to Build New 170,000 BPD Refinery

Ivory Coast plans to construct a new oil refinery to complement its existing facility, the Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage refinery (SIR). With a capacity of 170,000 barrels per day, the new refinery aims to meet rising energy demand in West and Central Africa.

Speaking at ARDA Week in Cape Town this week, Raphaël Kouamé Souanga, Director of Development and Energy Transition at SIR, explained that preliminary surveys have been completed and a tender process has shortlisted 10 companies, Evaluations are now underway to select a development partner.

The project forms part of SIR’s broader strategy to modernize its operations in line with new environmental sustainability specifications initiated by the Economic Community of West African States. The company is also implementing a €2 billion expansion campaign, which includes the installation of a diesel desulphurization unit, scheduled for construction as from May 2025. Additionally, SIR is working on a gasoline reformulation project to reduce benzene content, with a feasibility study completed.

Souanga added that the refinery is also installing a modular to generate electricity from gas to reduce operational costs and reliance on the main grid. The firm has also released a tender to expand existing port infrastructure to maximize the exportation of its products to regional and international markets.