For several months, several Ivorians have been complaining about their electricity bill, arguing that it is very high compared to usual.
An observation which caused much discussion and which the government was keen to explain. However, among the probable causes of this increase, Alafé Wakili wanted to clarify one rumor in particular.
“The rumor maintained and widespread according to which French companies are exempt from tax in Côte d’Ivoire. This is absolutely not the case.”wrote Wakili Alafé in a long contribution on bilateral relations between Russia and Africa.
Understanding the increase in the cost of electricity in Ivory Coast: analysis by Alafé Wakili
“The price per kilowatt/hour is different depending on the system you use to produce electricity. In Ivory Coast, the cost of producing solar energy is between 40 and 45 FCFA, the cost of hydraulic energy is 35 FCFA (…)
Based on the production base that we have in Ivory Coast, the average production cost is 52 FCFA per kilowatt/hour, one of the most competitive (…) The cost price of one kilowatt/hour is 89 FCFA.
The billing, that is to say what the household pays, after the last readjustment, is 87 FCFA, therefore below the cost price, i.e. a difference of 2 FCFA on an annual consumption of 13,000 Gigawatts/hours , while in 2012, this consumption was around 6,000 Gigawatts/hours (…)
For the government, the choice is clear: one of two things. Either we keep this position and in a few months, the private sector refuses to sell us their electricity production, with the consequences of cuts and load shedding, or, even if we cannot exactly align the cost price, the minimum is to go towards this cost price to cover the purchase of fuel.
There was therefore an effort to be made of consumers, of whom 2.8 million out of the 4.1 million are prepaid. The reactions of the populations are understandable, but there are explanations (…)
Already since January, these prepaid customers have realized that this year will be exceptional, they have adjusted.
Those who were surprised were the post-paid customers, i.e. 1.2 million (…) With the effects of climate change, the heat is getting worse, and so is electricity consumption.”
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