Eni has successfully launched production at Phase 2 of its Baleine field offshore Ivory Coast, increasing output to 60,000 barrels per day of oil and 70 million cubic feet per day of associated gas. This significant milestone highlights the rapid advancement of the project, which utilizes the Petrojarl Kong floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel alongside the Yamoussoukro floating storage and offloading (FSO) facility for oil exports. Notably, all processed gas will supply the local market through infrastructure developed in Baleine Phase 1.
This achievement further solidifies Ivory Coast’s standing as a key player in the global energy landscape, while bolstering national energy access. According to Eni, the swift execution of Phase 2 underscores the company’s remarkable time-to-market capabilities, facilitated by the refurbishment and reuse of FPSO and FSO assets.
Following the final investment decision in December 2022, Phase 1 began in August 2023, with Phase 2 safely executed in parallel. Looking ahead, the planned Phase 3 aims to raise production at Baleine to 150,000 barrels per day of oil and 200 million cubic feet per day of associated gas, further cementing Ivory Coast’s role as a regional energy hub.
Baleine is Africa’s first net-zero emissions upstream project (Scope 1 and 2), leveraging advanced technologies to minimize its carbon footprint. Collaborative initiatives with Ivorian ministries, such as a clean cooking programme benefitting over 575,000 vulnerable individuals and efforts to protect and restore 14 classified forests, contribute to the project’s carbon neutrality.
In addition to its environmental focus, Eni’s presence in Ivory Coast since 2015 has included initiatives in vocational training, education, health, and economic diversification. The company currently operates 10 deepwater blocks in partnership with Petroci Holding, with an equity production of approximately 22,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
