Electric sector in Ivory Coast - Research Paper Example

Electric sector in Ivory CoastIvory Coast is a country that has been struggling with both political and economic unrest for the last decade. However, since the inception of their new president in 2010 the country is trying to build up its infrastructure especially the electric sector. The mission of the country in terms of electricity is to make Ivory Coast the center of the Western African power pool (Gnansounou, 2008). The government is aiming at attracting both local and foreign investors.

The government is cooperative and has launched opportunities in hydro and thermal generation of electricity. This gives private, foreign, and local investors a wide chance to invest in the country. To prove the seriousness of this situation, the Ministry of Mines and Energy was set up to help in promoting and implementing of the projects (Mbendi, 2012). Legal reforms and frameworks are also complete to pave way for easy implementation of the plan. This is to stimulate and attract investors. Currently the electric law n° 85-583 established in 1985 and decree n°98-725 established in 1998 provides the State with the monopoly power to transmit, distribute import and export power in the country (Pierre-Olivier Pineau, 2008).

The monopoly power that the state owns is the major challenge the electric sector is facing. Amongst the strengths of the sector, include the strategic plans to allow private and foreign investors to help in transmission and distribution of electricity (Ray, 2011). RecommendationsThe government should allow private and foreign investors to help in distribution and transmission of electricity. This will create competition, which will reduce the price of electricity to the consumers.The government should adopt regimes that exempt tax from foreign and private investors who are willing to invest in the electric sector.

Due to lack of enough infrastructures, the government should create a new national electricity company to act as a regulator and control possible exploitation from private and foreign investors (Sterling, 2012). References Gnansounou, E. (2008). Boosting the Electricity Sector in West Africa: an Integrative Vision. infoscience, vol 17 23-29.Mbendi. (2012, August 12). Electrical Power in Côte d'Ivoire. Retrieved 2013, from Mbendi: http://www.mbendi.com/indy/powr/af/ci/p0005.htm#newsPierre-Olivier Pineau. (2008). Electricity sector integration in West Africa.

Energy Policy, Volume 36, Issue 1, Pages 210-223,.Ray, S. N. (2011). The Africa Power Guide. Trinity International LLP, 6 131-132.Sterling, S. &. (2012). A new landscape of the electricity sector in Ivory coast opportunities for foreign investors. Project dveleopment and Finance, 1 11-23.