Ivory Coast : ENI and PETROCI launch production from the Baleine field

Eni and its partner Petroci recently successfully launched production from the Baleine oil field in August, marking a record time to market of less than two years since its discovery. The field is currently producing 20,000 barrels of oil per day, surpassing the 12,000 barrels initially forecast. Production is expected to peak at 50,000 barrels per day by the end of 2024 with the completion of the second phase of development, and could subsequently produce up to 150,000 barrels per day.

The gas produced by Baleine is entirely destined for the local Ivorian market, thus contributing to energy access in the country. The project also represents the first net-zero development in Africa.

A meeting between Eni CEO Claudio Desclazi and Alassane Ouattara, President of Côte d'Ivoire, highlighted Eni's efforts to promote the country's economic diversification and meet its energy needs. Among these initiatives, the production of vegetable oil for Eni's biorefineries, exploiting rubber production waste, was recently launched in Côte d'Ivoire in partnership with the Fédération des producteurs d'hévéa de Côte d'Ivoire (FPH), benefiting 100,000 local families.

This supply chain complies with traceability, human rights and environmental standards, with ISCC-EU certification for the vegetable oil. Claudio Descalzi emphasized the importance of this project in Eni's decarbonization strategy, and its role in integrating Côte d'Ivoire into the biofuels market.

This vegetable oil project in Côte d'Ivoire, following on from the one launched in Kenya in 2022, is part of a series of Eni agri-farming initiatives under development in Africa, Italy, Kazakhstan and Southeast Asia. Eni is also involved in various sustainable development projects in Côte d'Ivoire, covering education, training, health and forestry.

Present in Côte d'Ivoire since 2015, Eni holds interests in several deepwater blocks, in partnership with Petroci Holding.

Lastly, Eni's share price rose by 1.6% to 14.95 euros per share.