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Add to Preferred SourcesThe European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a €99.1 million (US$ 111 million equivalent) loan to Mota-Engil Africa to support mining services operations in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, according to a press release published on 14 October 2026. The financing will upgrade mining operations at three sites, strengthen workforce skills and promote women’s participation in the sector. An additional €200,000 technical cooperation programme will accompany the investment. The package aims to improve productivity and reduce the environmental footprint of mining activities in both countries.
Mota-Engil Africa is one of Africa’s leading engineering, construction and mining services companies. The firm works on major mining and infrastructure projects across the continent. The EBRD began investing in sub-Saharan Africa in 2025. So far, the Bank has committed more than €620 million across Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal. Its portfolio in the region spans private-sector growth, financial institutions, infrastructure, energy, natural resources, telecommunications and agribusiness.
The EBRD’s investment will help finance purchases of modern equipment, cover working capital requirements and refinance recent investments at three mines in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. These measures are designed to improve productivity, strengthen operational capacity and enhance the sustainability of mining operations. Replacing older equipment with newer, more environmentally friendly machinery will lower fuel consumption. The upgrade will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the sites. The financing therefore combines commercial objectives with environmental gains.
As part of the agreement, Mota-Engil Africa will make a strategic investment in developing local human capital. The company plans to enhance the skills of its workforce and establish nationally accredited technical training programmes in partnership with educational institutions in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. These programmes will equip participants with the technical skills required by the modern mining industry. They will also strengthen the pipeline of qualified talent and expand access to quality employment opportunities. Mota-Engil Africa will implement targeted measures to recruit, retain and advance women in technical, operational and leadership positions.
Both workstreams will be supported by the €200,000 technical cooperation programme provided by the EBRD under its Gender and Economic Inclusion Framework. The initiative brings together equipment modernization, skills development and gender inclusion within a single financing package. It builds on the EBRD’s expanding engagement in sub-Saharan Africa since 2025. The project reflects the Bank’s approach to combining private-sector investment with human capital priorities. Together, the measures are intended to deliver more sustainable mining services operations in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.