Cote d’Ivoire’s oil and gas production is set for a major boost, with output expected to rise to between 75,000 and 85,000 barrels per day (bpd) following the successful launch of phase 2 at the Baleine field, the government announced on Wednesday.
Government spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly revealed after a cabinet meeting in Abidjan that combined production from phases 1 and 2 is projected to deliver up to 85,000 bpd of crude oil and 85 million cubic feet of natural gas daily.
Expansion of Baleine Field boosts output
The milestone follows the commencement of phase 2 production on December 28 by Italian energy giant ENI and its local partner PETROCI. This comes after phase 1, which began in August 2023 with an initial output of 22,000 bpd of crude oil and 10 million cubic feet of natural gas.
‘The crude oil output from phase 2 is expected to range between 50,000 and 60,000 barrels per day, significantly surpassing the initially projected 35,000 barrels,’ Coulibaly said. This marks an increase of 43 percent to 72 percent.
Similarly, natural gas production is expected to reach between 50 and 60 million cubic feet per day, exceeding earlier estimates of 40 million cubic feet—a rise of up to 50 percent.
Phase 3 to further boost Cote d’Ivoire’s oil industry
Coulibaly noted that data from phases 1 and 2 would refine development plans for phase 3, with a final investment decision expected by the end of 2025. Phase 3 is anticipated to increase total Baleine field production to 150,000 bpd of crude oil and 200 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.
‘This significant development underscores Cote d’Ivoire’s commitment to making the extractive sector a key pillar of long-term economic growth,’ Coulibaly stated.
The Baleine field, one of West Africa’s most promising offshore reserves, holds an estimated 2.5 billion barrels of oil and nearly 3,300 billion cubic feet of associated gas, positioning Côte d’Ivoire as an emerging energy powerhouse in the region.
Credit: Africabriefing
