Côte d'Ivoire Fast-Track: Baleine Phase 2 Reaches 50,000 bpd as Calao Appraisal Plan Advances

Italian major Eni and state partner PETROCI Holding have confirmed successful ramp-up of Phase 2 on the giant Baleine deepwater field, elevating production capacity to 50,000 barrels of crude oil per day and approximately 70 Mscfd of associated gas.

This execution solidifies the Ivorian fast-track development framework, which is now serving as the regulatory template for the commercial Plan of Development (PoD) for the Calao discovery on Block CI-205.

What this means for operators

1. Production Sharing Contract (CPP) fiscal transitions: Phase 2 commissioning activates the contractual Cost Oil recovery ceiling (capped at 70-75%) and opens progressive tiers of Profit Oil sharing in favor of the State.
2. Subsea pipeline Third-Party Access: The Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy has endorsed Third-Party Access (TPA) protocols for the gas export pipeline connecting Baleine directly to the Vridi power complex.
3. 2022 Local Content mandate enforcement: Marine support and onshore base logistics are strictly reserved for Category A accredited Ivorian firms.

Key Milestones

• Full Phase 2 plateau production: Achieving steady-state in second half of 2026.
• Calao PoD submission deadline: Due prior to expiry of the statutory appraisal window.