Eni started today the production of oil and gas from the Baleine field, in the deep waters of the Ivory Coast. This milestone comes less than two years after its discovery in September 2021, and less than a year and a half after the Final Investment Decision. This is the first zero-emission production project – Scope 1 and 2 – in Africa.
Baleine represents to date the largest discovery of hydrocarbons in the sedimentary basin of the Ivory Coast. The rapid time-to-market was possible thanks to the phased development that characterizes Eni's recent projects and the full collaboration of the partner PETROCI. For the first phase, production takes place through the FPSO Baleine, a Floating Production Storage and Offloading unit (FPSO) renovated and upgraded to allow it to treat up to 15.000 bbl/d of oil and approximately 25 Mscf /d of associated gas. The start-up of phase 2 is scheduled for the end of 2024 and will bring the field's production to 50.000 bbl/d of oil and approximately 70 Mscf/d of associated gas. The third stage of development is expected to bring the field's production to around 150.000 bbl/d of oil and around 200 Mscf/d.
All gas production from the Baleine field, both from this stage of development and from the next ones, will be delivered onshore via a newly built pipeline and will allow the country to satisfy the domestic electricity market, consolidating access to energy, and strengthen its role as a regional energy hub for neighboring countries.
The project leverages the best technologies available to reduce emissions. The remaining ones are compensated through initiatives developed in the country, including the supply and distribution to local communities of improved stoves, which make it possible to eliminate the consumption of wood or coal in the kitchen. The distribution of the stoves, launched in 2022, will make it possible to reach over one million people over the next 6 years. In parallel, Eni has launched studies for Nature Based Solutions projects on 380.000 hectares of protected forests.
Eni's Chief Executive Officer, Claudio Descalzi, commented: “The launch of Baleine is a milestone in Eni's activities. Building on an extraordinary exploration success we have achieved an industry leading time to market less than 2 years after the declaration of commercial discovery. This achievement represents the core tenets of our strategy, which includes pioneering Africa's net-zero project, accelerated development, supplying gas to the local market and promoting a just transition."
In Côte d'Ivoire Eni is engaged in a series of projects aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition to retraining interventions in schools and workshops to strengthen teachers' skills, for an audience of 8.500 students, a five-year agreement was signed with the Institut National Polytechnique Houphouët Boigny to train around 400 managers and technicians working in the energy sector. In the community health sector, initiatives have been launched to promote access to health services in 20 clinics located in vulnerable areas in different regions of the country. In the area of vocational training, two projects have been launched for professional integration in the energy, automotive and textile sectors which will involve around 450 young people.
Eni's presence in the Ivory Coast dates back to the 60s with the company Agip Côte d'Ivoire. In 2015 Eni re-entered the country, and currently holds interests in blocks CI-101 and CI-802 - on which the Baleine field extends - as well as in four other blocks in the Ivorian deep waters: CI-205, CI-501, CI-401 and CI-801, all with the same partner Petroci Holding.