On Monday, 16 February 2026, the Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy announced a significant commercial discovery of hydrocarbons in the Ivorian offshore sedimentary basin.
This discovery, named Calao Sud (or CALAO South), was made in early February 2026 by Italian oil company Eni, the block operator, in partnership with national company PETROCI Holding. It is the result of the successful drilling of the Murène South-1X exploration well, located in offshore block CI-501.
The well was drilled to a total depth of 5,058 metres, including approximately 2,200 metres of water depth, confirming the promising potential of the deep waters of the Ivorian basin. Located approximately 8 kilometres south-west of the previous Murène-1X well (on the neighbouring CI-205 block), the drilling revealed the presence of light oil, natural gas and condensates.
According to initial technical assessments, the resources identified in blocks CI-501 and CI-205 are estimated at approximately 1.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent. These preliminary volumes position this discovery as one of the most significant recently recorded in the sector in Côte d'Ivoire.
This breakthrough is part of a series of exploratory successes that have multiplied since 2021, with several previous discoveries (notably in 2021, 2022 and 2024) estimated cumulatively at several billion barrels. Together, these results strengthen the prospect for Côte d'Ivoire to become a net exporter of crude oil and a leading energy player in West Africa by the end of the decade.
Beyond oil, the confirmed presence of natural gas is particularly important for national ambitions. Domestic gas is considered a strategic resource for power generation, securing the national grid's supply and increasing electricity export capacity to neighbouring countries. This discovery thus consolidates Côte d'Ivoire's strategy of energy independence and sustainable development in the sector.
The Ivorian government, through the Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, welcomes this development as confirmation of the significant geological potential of the national sedimentary basin and the country's attractiveness for international investment in hydrocarbon exploration and production.
Further studies are currently underway to refine the resource assessment and define the development terms for the deposit. This work will enable us to determine the recoverable volumes and commercial exploitation scenarios.
This new discovery marks another step towards transforming Côte d'Ivoire's energy landscape and supports the country's objectives of economic growth, job creation and regional influence in the energy sector.