Italian energy giant Eni and its partners Petroci and Vitol have approved the final investment decision for the third and most ambitious phase of the Baleine offshore development in Côte d’Ivoire — a $4 billion commitment that will transform the country’s largest hydrocarbon discovery into a major regional energy powerhouse and more than double its current production capacity within three to four years.
Phase 3 will increase Baleine’s oil output from 60,000 barrels per day to 150,000 barrels per day — a 150 per cent increase — while natural gas production will climb from 80 million cubic feet per day to 200 million cubic feet per day. The centrepiece of the expansion is the construction and deployment of a purpose-built new Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel, engineered to support the expanded production capacity while embedding high operational efficiency, modern safety standards, and reduced environmental impact. First production from Phase 3 is expected within 32 to 36 months.
Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi described Baleine as a testament to the company’s exploration and production model, built on excellence in exploration, the ability to develop projects through a fast-track and phased approach, and a consistent commitment to sustainability. He said the project continues the successful phased development methodology used during Baleine’s first two stages, allowing production growth to be delivered while optimising infrastructure and controlling development costs.
Critically, all natural gas produced under the Phase 3 development will be directed entirely toward Côte d’Ivoire’s domestic market to support electricity generation and meet growing industrial demand — a commitment that underscores the project’s significance not only as a commercial investment but as a pillar of the country’s national energy security strategy. Eni has been present in Côte d’Ivoire since 2015, when it entered the country and subsequently made the Baleine and Calao offshore field discoveries, helping to reignite exploration interest across the country’s offshore sector and the broader West African deepwater market. The FID ceremony was held in Abidjan in the presence of Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly.
Source: worldoil.com; bairdmaritime.com