Côte d'Ivoire: the future Tour F skyscraper in Abidjan, ultimately smaller than expected?

A view of the plateau district of Abidjan in May 2020. AFP - ISSOUF SANOGO

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

In Côte d'Ivoire, the construction project for a gigantic skyscraper in Abidjan could be revised downwards, due to the rise in the price of construction materials and for financing issues.

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With our correspondent in Abidjan,

Will the tallest tower in Africa be built in Abidjan?

Presented at its beginnings as the future tallest skyscraper on the continent, Tower F could ultimately be much more modest than expected.

The reason: the rise in the price of building materials and financing issues.

Discussions are underway to consider a drastic reduction in its size, currently under construction in the commune of Plateau in Abidjan.

Initially thought to measure 280 meters, then 333 meters, the designer PFO Africa even wanted to add an antenna 70 meters high on the roof of the building in order to reach 404 meters, and make it the highest monument in Africa.

🔴TOWER F OF ABIDJAN 🇨🇮: THE NEXT HIGHEST TOWER IN AFRICA.

#cotedivoirehttps://t.co/feUSiSHk6z pic.twitter.com/jaikVJ77Qz

— Archigenie_afrik🟧 (@archigenieafrik) August 24, 2022

A construction lowered by 50 to 100 meters?

But this ambition could therefore be revised downwards due to financing problems and the rise in the price of building materials.

Tower F could ultimately be lowered by 50 or even 100 meters, which would still place it in the top 3 tallest skyscrapers on the continent.

Over the past five years, a race for heights seems to have started in Africa.

Egypt is about to complete its “Iconic Tower” located in its new administrative capital.

It reaches 393 meters in height and therefore becomes the tallest building in Africa.

In Morocco, the

is currently in the finishing phase in the suburbs of Rabat.

It measures 250 meters.

In Côte d'Ivoire, the construction of Tour F, which will mainly house offices, is an initiative of the Ministry of Construction, in partnership with PFO Africa, promoter of the project.

A project initially valued at 250 billion CFA francs

The cost of the project had been estimated at at least 250 billion CFA francs, or 450 million euros.

is a regular at monumental buildings.

In the early 1980s, he designed the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, one of the largest Catholic churches in the world.

He is also the father of the Hôtel Ivoire tower, erected in 1963.

However, the Tower F project is the subject of criticism: work began without prior consultation of Parliament or civil society actors.

► To read also: (1990-2015) the 25th anniversary of the Yamoussoukro basilica

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