S I M A M C ÔT E D ’ I VO I R E
E N E R GY FOR ALL Simam Côte d’Ivoire is the country’s premium energy supplier and a major player in the distribution of petroleum products. We revisit the company with Karim Ousmaes, General Administrator, to hear about its latest advancements Writer: Lauren Kania | Project Manager: Josh Whiteside 2 | Sustainability Outlook Issue 3
W
hether an individual, professional, or public sector actor, Simam Côte d’Ivoire (Simam CI) is the energy supplier of choice in the country. As a major player in Côte d’Ivoire’s petroleum product distribution since 2005, with more than 3.5 million bottles in circulation, choosing Simam CI means opting for practical,
SIMAM CÔTE D’IVOIRE AFRICA
accessible energy for everyday comfort. “Simam CI represents 20 years of expertise serving the energy needs of the Ivorian people and has established itself as the leader in packaged butane gas in Côte d’Ivoire. Our story is one of exceptional growth,” introduces Karim Ousmaes, General Administrator. Driven by Ousmaes’ leadership,
the company has proudly grown from a volume of 50 tonnes (t) per month in 2012 to over 700 t per day in 2026. Its operations cover the full spectrum of energy needs, including butane gas packaged in B6 cylinders for households, B12 gas, bulk gas, diesel, and a comprehensive range of lubricants for professionals and industrial clients under the EUROLUB
brand, for which it is the official and exclusive distributor in the country. Equally, Siman boasts a powerful industrial and logistical infrastructure. Its operational hub is located in the Yopougon Industrial Zone in Abidjan, housing both its headquarters and filling plant. “This site underwent a twophase modernisation involving an Sustainability Outlook Issue 3 | 3
SIMAM CÔTE D’IVOIRE AFRICA
HOW HAS SIMAM CI GROWN INTO A MAJOR NATIONAL ENERGY SUPPLIER SERVING BOTH HOUSEHOLDS AND INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2005? Karim Ousmaes, Director General: “For over 20 years, we have held a clear vision – to become a key player in the energy sector in Côte d’Ivoire. We have pursued this vision with rigour: a business model tailored to the Ivorian market, massive industrial investments, and an obsession with service quality. “Naturally, this is achieved by realising a long-held vision: to be a key player in Côte d’Ivoire’s energy sector. We have implemented our strategy through a business model designed and tailored to better serve our customers. “Growing from 50 t per month to 700 t per day is not a matter of luck; it is the execution of a deliberate strategy.”
investment of over €20 million and highlights a storage capacity of 2,600 t. We are also preparing for the future. Between 2026 and 2028, we will construct a new storage sphere, effectively doubling our logistical capacity,” details Ousmaes. Beyond Abidjan, the company’s network of depots covers the entire country, supported by a fleet of over 100 trucks operated by its group partner, Ivoire Transport, ensuring daily supply. The company proudly serves households, businesses, industrial clients, and public sector entities through a nationwide network of over 4,000 retailers, with approximately three million cylinders in circulation. Equally, Simam CI’s strength lies in its people and commitment to excellence. Comprising approximately 1,000 employees, the company has a young workforce averaging 34 years of age. “It is a team dedicated to serving both households and the country’s largest industries with the same high standards. This commitment to excellence was rewarded with ISO 9001:2015 certification, obtained in 2023. Our next steps are getting the ISO 14001 certification for the environment and ISO 45001 for safety,” Ousmaes furthers.
ENERGY SUPPLIER OF CHOICE Since last speaking to Ousmaes in 2024 about Simam CI’s objectives and priorities, the company’s vision has evolved since successfully concluding its previous strategic plan in 2025, driven by the vision ‘SIMAMCI 2025: The Benchmark for Energy Suppliers’. Additionally, the company has found success in the business-toconsumer (B2C) market, having proudly become a go-to brand for Ivorian households and earning both an award and a consumer label for bottled gas for households from The Label of African Consumers. Notably, 94 percent of its customers have 4 | Sustainability Outlook Issue 3
been satisfied with its products and services for five consecutive years. “Today, the oil and gas sector is more exciting than ever because the biggest challenge lies ahead – transforming B2C success into business-to-business (B2B) leadership,” enthuses Ousmaes. “We have a major asset to help us achieve this: a 94 percent customer satisfaction rate for five consecutive years. That is the perfect foundation for tackling the next stage.” What sets Simam CI apart from the competition is its unique business model, where it has chosen to never sever the link with the end customer. Whilst many competitors rely on intermediaries, Simam CI has built an integrated model. This strategic decision was made in order to maintain contact with the company’s end customers, better understand their needs, and respond with aligned products and services. Thanks to its retailers and plethora of cylinders in circulation, the company is close to households in their daily lives. Such proximity enables the company to understand actual needs and respond with a perfectly aligned product and service. Ultimately, Simam CI meets all of the country’s and its customers’ energy needs through supplying gas cylinders, fuel cylinders, bulk gas, diesel oil, lubricants, additives, and biocide for various industries.
FINDING MAXIMUM DAILY COMFORT Currently, Simam CI is focused on a particularly strategic project for the coming years – the construction of a new 5,000-t storage sphere housed within a protective enclosure, which represents an investment of approximately USD$27 million and will significantly boost the company’s logistics capacity. This project is crucial on two levels. The first is industrial, as it will lift the ceiling on the company’s current
SIMAM CÔTE D’IVOIRE AFRICA
“Today, the oil and gas sector is more exciting than ever because the biggest challenge lies ahead – transforming B2C success into B2B leadership” – K A R I M O U S M A E S , G E N E R A L A D M I N I S T R AT O R , S I M A M C Ô T E D ’ I V O I R E
product capacity. The second is financial, with the project enabling Simam CI to generate millions of dollars in savings on its processing costs. “This project is highly strategic for us. It will not only address the issue of the current plant’s maximum production capacity limits but also generate savings in processing costs estimated at approximately USD$7 million per year. This investment secures our leadership and profitability for the future and is what
will allow us to approach the market with confidence,” Ousmaes states. Equally as important to the company are its staff, whose daily contributions comprise Simam CI’s continued success. The company is steadfast in its belief that its people are the greatest asset it possesses – which is more than just a slogan. “We have a young, ambitious workforce that has driven the company’s growth. Every year, all of our teams undergo continuous evaluation, and internal promotions
are prioritised. As Siman CI grows, our employees grow with us,” expands Ousmaes.
SAFE, EFFICIENT NETWORK Crucial to Simam CI are the corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices it participates in, such as the Fondation Atef Omaïs (FATOM). The company’s commitment is tangible and local, notably driven by this significant foundation. Its achievements to date consist of participation in the renovation and construction of schools in North Abidjan in order to provide better learning conditions for students. Soon, this initiative will be extended to South Abidjan as well. Additionally, the company is aiming to allocate a 2027 budget to fund initiatives in collaboration with the Sustainability Outlook Issue 3 | 5
SIMAM CI’S VALUES • HEALTH AND SAFETY FIRST – Demonstrating safe behaviour in every activity, ensuring that all work and travel are carried out safely, and promoting safety and health in the workplace. • EMPLOYEE ACHIEVEMENT – Continue to develop oneself and others, seek solutions to help, be socially responsible, and contribute to social well-being. • TEAM SPIRIT AND COLLABORATION – Treating colleagues as one would like to be treated, trusting in the abilities of others, actively seeking different points of view, and breaking down barriers between professions. • EXCELLENCE AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT – Respect the commitments made, have the will to be a leader, act like an entrepreneur, have the courage to be innovative whilst taking reasonable risks, have the curiosity for the opinions of others, and communicate in an understandable way. • CLIENT SATISFACTION – Put the customer at the heart of concerns, respond to customer needs by taking into account their expectations and complaints, and offer added value in all customer interactions.
6 | Sustainability Outlook Issue 3
National Commission on Combatting Climate Change – a unit within the Ministry of the Environment, Sustainable Development, and Ecological Transition. For the company, being an energy leader also means acting responsibly. As Simam CI is planning for the upcoming year, its primary objective is to fully focus on the sphere construction project, without losing sight of its business development goals in line with its strategic plan. “This serves as the foundation that will enable us to confidently roll out the next phase of our strategic plan – capturing the B2B market whilst consolidating our leadership in the B2C sector,” Ousmaes insights. Ultimately, Simam CI’s 20 years of success boil down to what lies behind its impressive figures; a truly Ivorian human story. “Simam CI is an Ivorian company that believed in Côte d’Ivoire. Over the past two decades, we have built a
SIMAM CÔTE D’IVOIRE AFRICA
“Simam CI represents 20 years of expertise serving the energy needs of the Ivorian people and has established itself as the leader in packaged butane gas in Côte d’Ivoire. Our story is one of exceptional growth” – K A R I M O U S M A E S , G E N E R A L A D M I N I S T R AT O R , S I M A M C Ô T E D ’ I V O I R E
national leader, creating 1,000 direct jobs for young Ivorians and thousands of indirect jobs through our retailers. “Our ambition goes beyond gas as we aim to contribute to our country’s energy sovereignty and demonstrate that a national champion can compete with multinationals by staying closer to its customers,” confidently concludes Ousmaes. “When you choose Simam CI, you are choosing high-quality Ivorian energy that is accessible to everyone. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our 4,000 retailers and 1,000 employees, without whom none of this would be possible.”
simam.ci/en Sustainability Outlook Issue 3 | 7
simam.ci/en