By Ejekwu Chidiebere
Eni, working in alliance with Petroci have just announced that they have achieved a significant increase in gas supply for Côte d’Ivoire’s power generation system. Launched in December 2024 on schedule and with full safety measures according to a statement, as Phase 2 of the Baleine project stand out today as one positive step forward in the company’s commitment to strengthening the country’s energy sector and industrial development, significantly strengthening access to energy.
Energy Window International gathered that the gas produced, which will be up to 70 million cubic feet per day will all be allocated to meeting local demand, ensuring a reliable supply for the country’s power generation needs, reinforcing further Côte d’Ivoire’s role as a regional energy hub. The statement adds that this achievement has been made possible through close collaboration with Ivorian authorities and Petroci, “leveraging Eni’s integrated approach that combines responsible production with a positive impact on local communities.”
Eni also said that it has reached its oil production plateau of 60,000 barrels per day, tripling output compared to the 20,000 barrels produced in the previous phase.
Baleine has been described as the first net-zero upstream project (Scope 1 and 2) in Africa, a milestone made possible by advanced technologies to reduce its carbon footprint and innovative initiatives developed in close cooperation with the Ivorian government. These include a distribution program of locally produced improved cookstove, which has already benefited over 600,000 vulnerable people, and a project for the protection and restoration of 14 classified forests, contributing to the project’s overall carbon neutrality.
With Phase 1 (August 2023), Phase 2 (December 2024), and Phase 3 currently under study, total production is expected to reach 150,000 barrels of oil per day and 200 million cubic feet of associated gas.
Eni reaffirms its presence in Côte d’Ivoire in the last ten years. It also reiterated its commitment to energy production, while working to sustain development through projects in education, training, healthcare, and economic diversification, aligning its endeavours with the country’s national development plans.