Italian energy giant Eni has announced a major natural gas and condensate discovery offshore Côte d’Ivoire, marking the second-largest hydrocarbon find in the country’s history.
Eni has made a major natural gas and condensate discovery called Calao South offshore Côte d’Ivoire, the country’s second-largest hydrocarbon find.The Calao South field in Block CI-501 is estimated to contain up to three trillion cubic feet of gas and 100 million barrels of condensate.The new discovery strengthens Ivory Coast’s energy profile and may boost power generation, industrial growth, and regional exports.The find further cements Eni’s strategic presence in West Africa, complementing its projects in Angola, Ghana, and Nigeria.
The discovery, named Calao South, was made after drilling the Murene South‑1X exploration well in Block CI‑501, where Eni holds a 90% stake in partnership with state-owned Petroci Holding.The company estimates the field contains up to three trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 100 million barrels of condensate, roughly equivalent to 1.4 billion barrels of oil. The find follows Eni’s earlier Baleine field development, which remains the country’s largest offshore resource.The well was drilled by the Saipem Santorini drillship to a depth of over 5,000 metres in water around 2,200 metres deep. High-quality reservoir sands were encountered, and Eni plans further testing to determine production potential and timelines for commercial development.
Eni boosts Ivory Coast’s regional energy profileThe Calao South find strengthens Ivory Coast’s energy base, supporting potential domestic power generation, industrial growth, and regional exports.For Eni, the find reinforces its strategic presence in West Africa, complementing other deepwater projects in Angola, Ghana, and Nigeria.For Eni, the find reinforces its strategic presence in West Africa, complementing other deepwater projects in Angola, Ghana, and Nigeria.“This discovery confirms the significant resource potential offshore Ivory Coast and reinforces the region’s appeal to global energy investors,” said an Eni spokesperson.Reuters reports that output from Baleine, Ivory Coast’s largest hydrocarbon development, is expected to rise to 150,000 barrels of oil and 200 million cubic feet of gas per day with the launch of Phase 3, noting this would make the field a key asset for the country’s domestic energy needs.With rising demand for energy across West Africa, this discovery could also help Ivory Coast meet domestic consumption while exporting to neighboring markets.For Eni, the find reinforces its strategic presence in West Africa, complementing other deepwater projects in Angola, Ghana, and Nigeria.Italian energy giant Eni has in recent years deepened its oil production collaboration across Africa.In a previous report, Business Insider Africa noted that Eni, alongside the United Kingdom’s BP, confirmed a fresh 500 million-barrel oil discovery offshore Angola, reinforcing the Southern African nation’s efforts to bolster crude production amid sustained output pressures and shifting global energy flows.The Calao South discovery highlights the continuing potential of West Africa’s offshore hydrocarbon basins, attracting multinational energy companies eager to tap new gas and condensate reserves to meet both regional and global demand.
