The project includes the development of a new floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit, designed to ensure high standards of operational efficiency and safety and lower environmental impact. It builds on the phased and fast-track development model already implemented in Baleine’s first two phases, enabling early production while optimising costs and leveraging existing infrastructure.
All gas produced will be allocated to the domestic market, contributing to Côte d’Ivoire’s energy needs, expanding electricity generation and supporting the country’s industrial development.
Baleine project
- Eni’s first field and largest asset in the country, as well as the first zero-emission field in Africa;
- it is located in Blocks CI-101 and CI-802;
- proven reserves are estimated at 2 billion barrels of oil and 68 billion cubic meters of associated petroleum gas (APG).
The field was discovered in September 2021 in Block CI-101 by the Baleine-1x exploration well. The final investment decision (FID) for the project was made in December 2022, and production began in 2023.
Production in the first phase began in August 2023 using the FPSO Baleine, which underwent repairs and upgrades, resulting in a capacity of 15,000 barrels of oil per day and approximately 0.7 million cubic meters of associated petroleum gas (APG) per day.
Production in the second phase began in late December 2024 using the FPSO Petrojarl Kong.
The ownership stakes in the Baleine project are distributed among the companies as follows:
- Eni holds 47.25%;
- Vitol acquired 30%;
- Petroci holds 22.75%.
Vitol joined the project in September of last year.
Eni in Côte d’Ivoire
Eni has been operating in Côte d’Ivoire since 2015 and is developing 10 blocks in the deepwater areas of the shelf (CI-101, CI-205, CI-401, CI-501, CI-801, CI-802, CI-504, CI-526, CI-706, and CI-708) in partnership with Petroci Holding. The company’s largest project in the country is Baleine, located in blocks CI-101 and CI-802. In March 2024, Eni discovered another major hydrocarbon field off the coast of Côte d’Ivoire –Calao in block CI-205.
