Eni CEO and President Ouattara discuss development of Baleine 1-X oil field
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ENI, Claudio Descalzi on Friday, October 1, met with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara to discuss the progress of Eni’s activities in the country and subsequent development of the giant Baleine 1-X offshore discovery.
Appraisal and fast-track development plans of the offshore oil find dominated discussions between Mr Descalzi and President Ouattara.
Discussions on how to deliver a net zero carbon development project, complementing oil and gas with renewables and other decarbonization initiatives such as UN REDD+ programs for the protection of primary forests and biodiversity also ensued between the two.
Additionally, measures to leverage the development of local content, facilitating the participation of local people and businesses in Eni’s industrial activities, through transfer of skills and knowledge and the reinforcement of communities’ skills assets were also extensively talked about.
President Ouattara on his part, affirmed his strong political will to support investments and a fast time-to-market through an effective collaboration from his Government.
Baleine’s potential is estimated in excess of 2 billion barrels of oil in place and about 2.4 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of associated gas. Its significant gas volumes will contribute to power generation in Côte d’Ivoire, strengthening the country’s role as a regional energy hub.
Baleine-1x is the first operated exploration well drilled by Eni in Côte d’Ivoire. The CI-101 block is operated by a consortium made up in the exploratory phase of Eni, operator, and Petroci Holding. In addition to the CI-101 block, Eni owns a stake in four other blocks in the Ivorian deepwater: CI-205, CI-501, CI-504 and CI-802, all with the same partner Petroci Holding.
The Baleine 1-X discovery which took place 20 years after the last commercial discovery in the area, opens-up a new exploration concept in a mature basin.
