The Italian energy company Eni has completed the sale to the Dutch Vitol of a 30% stake in the Baleine project, which is the main offshore development in Ivory Coast and is held by Eni (47.25%), Vitol (30%) and Petroci (22.75%). Eni specified that the transaction is in in line with its strategy aimed at optimising upstream activity, which plans to bring forward the Enhancement of exploration discoveries through the reduction of of the shareholdings in them (the so-called dual model) exploration).

The giant Baleine field was discovered in 2021, 20 years after the last commercial discovery in the country, and the production started in 2023. With a production Phase 1 and 2 total oil intake of more than 62,000 barrels of oil and more of 75 million cubic feet of gas per day, set to rise up to 150,000 barrels of oil and 200 million cubic feet per day with the start of Phase 3, the Baleine project represents a a fundamental pillar to meet domestic energy demand.