Italian Energy Company, Eni, has expanded its exploration footprint in Côte d’Ivoire after securing rights to a new offshore block, CI-707, as part of its plan to strengthen its operations in the country’s upstream oil and gas sector.
The agreement, signed with the Ivorian Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, grants Eni control of the 2,926 square kilometre block located in the Ivorian sedimentary basin.
The block lies in water depths ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 metres and is covered by a nine year exploration period, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
This latest acquisition brings the total number of offshore exploration blocks operated by Eni in Côte d’Ivoire to eleven, including CI-101, CI-205, CI-401, CI-501, and CI-802.
The company said the move aligns with its strategy to build Côte d’Ivoire into one of its key operational bases in West Africa.
According to the statement, Eni plans to increase national oil and gas production through new exploration projects and infrastructure development.
The company explained that its activities in Côte d’Ivoire are aimed at creating value through domestic energy supply while supporting regional export capacity.
Expanding offshore portfolio
The development follows Eni’s success in the Baleine field, discovered in 2021 within blocks CI-101 and CI-802, which currently produces about 62,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) and 75 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.
The field has quickly become the centrepiece of the country’s oil and gas growth plans and remains one of West Africa’s most significant offshore projects.
Earlier this year, Eni sold a 30% stake in the Baleine project to Global Commodity Trader, Vitol, to accelerate its development.
Following the transaction, Eni retained a 47.25% stake, while Vitol holds 30%, and state owned Petroci maintains 22.75%.
The Baleine field, developed in phases, is expected to raise production to 150,000 bpd and 200 million standard cubic feet of gas per day once Phase 3 is completed.
The project has been designed to ensure stable output, environmental safety, and energy supply for both domestic and export markets.
Strengthening Côte d’Ivoire’s energy sector
Côte d’Ivoire has increasingly positioned itself as a regional energy hub by encouraging investments from international oil companies such as Eni and Vitol.
The government has said that projects like Baleine and CI-707 will boost energy independence, create local employment, and improve revenues.
Eni said its expanding portfolio in Côte d’Ivoire demonstrates its long term commitment to the country’s energy growth. It added that the new CI-707 block would help enhance exploration efficiency and sustain production levels across its existing assets.
The company’s operations in the country are being developed in close collaboration with the Ivorian authorities and Petroci to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and support national development goals.
Beyond exploration, Eni continues to invest in infrastructure and gas supply systems that will help diversify the country’s energy sources.
The company maintained that Côte d’Ivoire remains a strategic location for its West African operations due to its stable investment climate and growing regional demand for oil and gas.
