On Monday, May 25, 2026, Abidjan marked a historic turning point for its energy sector. On behalf of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, presided over the official signing of phase 3 of the Baleine field .

This strategic agreement was initialed by three key players:

1. Fatoumata Sanogo , Director General of PETROCI Holding (for the Ivorian State);
2. Luca Faccenda , Managing Director of Eni Côte d'Ivoire;
3. Niyi Ajibola , Asset Manager of Vitol.

An explosion in national production

This third and final phase aims to propel Ivory Coast into a new energy dimension through ambitious production targets:

Resource	Current production	Objective Phase 3
Crude oil	60,000 barrels/day	150,000 barrels/day
Natural gas	80 million cubic feet per day	200 million cubic feet per day

To achieve this, the project relies on an accelerated development model ( fast track ). It plans the deployment of a new floating production, storage and offloading ( FPSO ) unit. This state-of-the-art infrastructure combines cost optimization, maximum safety and strict adherence to environmental standards.

A colossal investment for energy sovereignty

The total development of Baleine represents a global investment of US$8.5 billion . While US$4.5 billion has already been invested in the first two phases, an additional US$4 billion is being allocated for this final phase.

"The Baleine field is the most important hydrocarbon discovery in the history of Côte d'Ivoire, with estimated reserves of 2.5 billion barrels of oil and 3.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas." — Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly , Minister of Energy.

The minister emphasized that this project goes far beyond mere figures: it represents a lever of national sovereignty. By securing the gas supply for power plants, phase 3 will directly support the country's industrialization, meet household demand, and boost the competitiveness of the Ivorian economy.

The Ivory Coast basin, a new oil Eldorado

The success of the Baleine field, discovered in 2021, acted as a catalyst. According to Guido Brusco, ENI's Global Director of Natural Resources Operations, this momentum paved the way for the subsequent discoveries of the Calao (2024) and Cachalot (2025) fields.

In conclusion, the ENI representative called on all partners and technical teams to make this phase 3 a model of industrial success, by reconciling respect for deadlines, quality and preservation of the environment.