Eni and its partners have sanctioned the third phase of the Baleine development offshore Côte d’Ivoire, lifting planned oil output from 60,000 barrels per day to 150,000 bpd and gas production from 80 million cubic feet per day to 200 MMcf/d.
The project will include a new floating production, storage, and offloading unit, extending the fast-track development model used in the field’s first two phases. Eni said all gas from the project will be supplied to the domestic market, supporting power generation and industrial demand in Côte d’Ivoire.
Baleine is the largest hydrocarbon discovery ever made in Côte d’Ivoire and has helped raise the country’s profile as an emerging offshore oil and gas hub in West Africa. Eni has operated in the country since 2015 and has also made the Calao discovery, another sign of rising exploration interest in the Ivorian offshore.
The expansion comes as West African producers seek to bring new offshore barrels online while using associated gas to strengthen domestic energy security rather than relying solely on exports.