GE Vernova selected to supply gas turbine for new 372 MW combined-cycle power plant in Côte d’Ivoire
GE Vernova announced on October 20, 2026, that it will supply a 9E gas turbine and generator for the Songon combined-cycle power plant, a new 372 MW facility located near Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The order was placed by developer Songon Energies S.A., with China Energy International Engineering Co., Ltd. serving as EPC contractor.
The plant is projected to come online in 2029, at which point it could represent up to 12 percent of Côte d’Ivoire’s total installed generation capacity.
GE Vernova wins turbine supply contract for Songon power plant
The deal came together after Songon Energies S.A. signed financing agreements in June 2026. From there, the Ivorian development and investment company selected GE Vernova to supply the core generation equipment, with China Energy International Engineering Co., Ltd. stepping in as EPC contractor — responsible for building the facility from the ground up.
GE Vernova supplies the 9E gas turbine and generator, manages the high-voltage substation, provides digital software, and holds long-term service contracts.
The plant’s 372 MW capacity is designed to meet the electricity needs of roughly 5 million Ivorian homes. That number alone signals how consequential this project is for a country managing rapid demand growth. GE Vernova booked the order in Q3 2026, with the public announcement following on October 20.
Why Côte d’Ivoire needs additional generation capacity
Côte d’Ivoire’s electricity demand is growing at 10 to 15 percent annually. That’s a brutal pace for any grid to absorb, and existing infrastructure is already feeling the strain.
The country has made real progress on access — by 2024, it reached a 94.3 percent electrification rate, largely through the “Electricity for All Program” (PEPT). Genuinely significant. Rural areas still lack adequate access, though, and the national goal of universal electrification with improved power quality by 2030 remains unfinished.
The Greater Abidjan metropolitan area faces particular pressure. Industrial growth and expanding households are pushing demand faster than current supply can handle, and the Songon plant is positioned directly to address that gap — built in the Songon region, right where the need is greatest.
Projected impact on national grid and local economy
When the plant comes online in 2029, it could account for up to 12 percent of Côte d’Ivoire’s total installed generation capacity. That’s a substantial share for a single facility, and it reflects just how significant the current supply shortfall actually is.
The project is also expected to create up to 1,400 new jobs — a direct economic benefit for communities near the plant, not just a line in a press release.
GE Vernova’s role extends well beyond turbine delivery. The company will also power the high-voltage substation, provide digital software, and hold long-term service contracts for the broader energy system. That wider scope is built to support grid stability and operational efficiency over years of operation, not just at startup. Songon Energies frames the facility as more than a power plant — according to Deputy General Manager Wang Xiaoming, it’s meant to serve as a foundation for industrial zone development, small and medium enterprise growth, and better living standards for millions of Ivorian households, while strengthening the country’s position as a regional energy hub in West Africa.
GE Vernova’s existing presence in Côte d’Ivoire
GE Vernova isn’t arriving cold. The company already has a solid footprint in Côte d’Ivoire — a large installed base, power transmission hardware, digital software deployments, and existing long-term service contracts that predate this deal.
That history appears to have mattered in the selection process. Wang Xiaoming specifically pointed to GE Vernova’s “constant, proven presence in Côte d’Ivoire” as a deciding factor, alongside confidence in the 9E turbine technology itself. Years of in-country work were a real differentiator.
The 9E gas turbine carries a broad global installed base, which gives operators confidence in reliability and serviceability that newer or less-proven technologies can’t easily match. Joseph Anis, CEO of Gas Power for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at GE Vernova, said the company’s commitment is rooted in delivering “reliable, dispatchable energy necessary for long-term growth” — and the Songon project extends that commitment deeper into West Africa’s regional energy development.
What the Songon project represents
The Songon combined-cycle power plant brings together several converging priorities: a developer focused on Ivorian energy infrastructure, a technology supplier with deep in-country history, and a national government pushing toward universal electrification by 2030.
The division of roles is straightforward. GE Vernova supplies the 9E gas turbine and generator, manages the high-voltage substation, provides digital software, and holds long-term service contracts. China Energy International Engineering Co., Ltd. builds the plant. Songon Energies S.A. develops it. Target operational date: 2029.
At 372 MW, the facility could cover up to 12 percent of the country’s total installed capacity and power the equivalent of 5 million homes, with up to 1,400 jobs expected to follow. For Côte d’Ivoire, this is a concrete step toward closing the gap between where its grid stands today and where it needs to be.
Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
