The 2026 draft budget for the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum, and Mines amounts to 267,100,146,561 FCFA in commitment authorizations (CA) and 130,097,966,646 FCFA in payment appropriations (PA). "A substantial allocation that reflects the State's commitment to strengthening access to energy, developing mineral resources, and optimizing hydrocarbon exploitation," according to the Minister of Finance and Budget, speaking before the committee. It should be noted that this budget is currently under review in plenary session at the National Assembly this Friday, December 5, 2025.

Indeed, access to competitive and sustainable energy is a priority. The core of this budget rests on Program 3: Universal Access to Competitive and Sustainable Energy, which alone accounts for the bulk of the resources, with 255.51 billion FCFA in commitment appropriations (CA) and 118.97 billion FCFA in payment appropriations (PA). This substantial allocation is primarily directed towards investments made by the State, representing over 245 billion FCFA in CA and 109 billion FCFA in PA.

These investments focus in particular on expanding electricity grids, modernizing energy infrastructure, developing renewable energy sources, and improving the quality and continuity of service. The government aims to make energy more accessible, reliable, and sustainable in a context of population growth and increased demand.

The enhanced development of mining potential

Program 2, focusing on the development of mineral resources, has a budget of 5.73 billion FCFA in commitment appropriations (CA) and 5.38 billion FCFA in payment appropriations (PA). It aims to strengthen local processing of mineral resources, geological mapping, and the oversight of artisanal and industrial mining. This program also includes 3 billion FCFA in capital transfers, demonstrating support for structures and projects related to the development of the mining sector. Program 1, which covers steering, coordination, and administrative management, has a budget of 3.04 billion FCFA. It primarily covers staff salaries and benefits, day-to-day operations, and institutional capacity building. "This component is essential to ensure the coherence and effectiveness of public policies in a sector that is strategic for the national economy."

Monitoring and controlling operations

With a budget of 273 million FCFA, Program 4, or Monitoring and Control of Operations, aims to improve the monitoring, control, and regulation of energy, mining, and petroleum activities. This program, while modest in scope, plays a crucial role in combating illegal exploitation and mismanagement of resources. Furthermore, it should be noted that hydrocarbons remain central to the issues, with Program 5, or Optimization of Hydrocarbon Resource Exploitation, allocated 2.52 billion FCFA in commitment appropriations and 2.42 billion FCFA in payment appropriations. Its objective is to improve governance of the oil and gas sector and prepare the country for more profitable and transparent management of its resources.

Capital transfers (1 billion FCFA in budget authority) also indicate a commitment to investing in tools, infrastructure, and oversight capabilities. "Beyond the figures, this 2026 budget reflects a strong strategic choice: to make energy a major driver of economic development, industrialization, and territorial equity. It aligns with the dynamics of energy sovereignty, while also integrating the requirements of the ecological transition," at least according to the committee's conclusions.