On the sidelines of CERAWeek 2025, held in Houston, Côte d'Ivoire consolidated its status as a preferred destination for the world's major oil companies. Under the impetus of an ambitious roadshow led by Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly, Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, the country has attracted the attention of majors such as BP, PETROBRAS and VITOL, which have announced massive investments in the Ivorian offshore. These commitments, combined with attractive reforms and recent field discoveries, herald a new energy era for Côte d'Ivoire.
Ten years after leaving the country, BP made its return to Côte d'Ivoire official on 12 March. At a meeting with Minister Coulibaly, representatives of the British giant unveiled their intention to reinvest in oil exploration, motivated by the stability of the investment climate, transparent governance and major discoveries in the Ivorian sedimentary basin. BP plans to acquire preliminary data to target the most promising offshore blocks.
At the same time, PETROBRAS, the Brazilian oil company, marked its entry into the Ivorian market. On 10 March, Magda Chambriard, CEO of PETROBRAS, confirmed the acquisition of data on four offshore blocks and explored a partnership with PETROCI. "The geological similarities between the Ivorian and Brazilian basins offer a unique opportunity for South-South collaboration", she said, a prospect hailed by the Ivorian minister as a lever for the country's industrial development.
VITOL, already active in oil distribution in Côte d'Ivoire, has decided to broaden its footprint by entering offshore exploration via specialist consortia. Houston-based VAALCO Energy, meanwhile, has stepped up its interest by targeting four new blocks, following an initial acquisition in March 2025. Lastly, Murphy Oil, which holds five offshore blocks, including one with proven natural gas reserves, plans to drill its first well by the end of 2025, thereby strengthening its position in the country.
On 11 March, a ministerial meeting between Chris Wright, US Secretary of Energy, and several African oil and gas ministers highlighted the United States' commitment to Africa's energy sector. Côte d'Ivoire, the only French-speaking sub-Saharan nation invited to attend alongside heavyweights such as Nigeria and Angola, received a strong signal: Washington will encourage its companies and investors to seize the opportunities offered by Abidjan. "We want to support Africa in the sustainable exploitation of its resources", said Chris Wright during his meeting with Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly.
These announcements come in a favourable context, marked by structural reforms and significant oil discoveries. Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly hailed the success of the meeting in Houston, seeing it as the realisation of President Alassane Ouattara's vision, which has propelled Côte d'Ivoire into the top ten African economies. "These commitments testify to investors' confidence in our energy potential," he said.
The roadshow continues in New York, with meetings planned with major players in the mining and energy industries. Buoyed by this momentum, Côte d'Ivoire is establishing itself as an energy hub in West Africa, ready to accelerate the exploitation of its resources to meet the global challenges of the energy transition.