Clean air: AfDB grants Côte d’Ivoire €200m to produce low-sulphur fuels – EnviroNews

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The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group approved on July 13, 2026, in Abidjan, a loan of €200 million to finance the “Clean Air” project carried out by the Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage (SIR).

The project includes the design, construction, and commissioning of a diesel hydrodesulfurisation complex within SIR. This strategic infrastructure will strengthen the refinery’s capacity to process petroleum products and produce ultra-low-sulphur diesel.

The Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage will thus be able to produce fuels meeting international standards, while improving air quality and the transition toward more environmentally friendly petroleum products in the region.

Founded in 1962, SIR handles the refining of crude oil, and the distribution of petroleum products in Côte d’Ivoire and other parts of the world, according to its website.

With a total estimated cost of €833 million, the project will be financed by a consortium of development financial institutions and partners. As mandated lead arranger, the African Development Bank will play a central role in structuring the financing and mobilising additional resources for this strategic operation. The commissioning of this new HDS complex is planned for 2029.

“By enabling Côte d’Ivoire to produce ultra-low-sulphur fuels, the Clean Air project combines industrial modernisation and climate action, while improving public health across West Africa,” said Kevin Kariuki, Vice-President of the African Development Bank Group for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth. “The African Development Bank is proud to support this transformation, which will help make cities cleaner, improve vehicle engine efficiency, and preserve the competitiveness of Côte d’Ivoire’s fuel industry.”

Furthermore, the project will strengthen the energy security of Côte d’Ivoire and several neighboring landlocked countries, notably Mali and Burkina Faso, which partly source refined petroleum products from SIR. It will help preserve the competitiveness of one of the largest working refineries in West Africa, amid tightening regional and international environmental requirements.

The complex is expected to generate some 1,140 jobs on-site during construction. After it becomes operational, 82 additional permanent staff are expected to be hired, while maintaining approximately 900 existing jobs. A skills development programme for around 50 employees is also planned, to support the operation of higher-performing and more environmentally friendly technologies.

The Clean Air project is part of the African Development Bank Group’s Ten-Year Strategy 2024-2033, and contributes towards achieving one of its Four Cardinal Points, notably that of mobiliing capital at scale and building climate-resilient infrastructure, while promoting industrialisation.