Eni announces the completion of the sale of a 30% stake in the Baleine project in Côte d’Ivoire, to Vitol. The Baleine project is the country’s main offshore development and is now owned by Eni (47,25%), Vitol (30%) and Petroci (22,75%).

The transaction aligns with Eni's strategy of optimising its upstream portfolio by accelerating the monetization of exploration discoveries through the divestment of equity stakes, a model known as the "dual exploration model."

Eni and Vitol are already partners in the OCTP and Block 4 projects in Ghana, and this transaction further strengthens their collaboration in West Africa.

Eni has been present in Cote d’Ivoire since 2015. Baleine is Eni’s first development in the country, and the first net-zero development in Africa. The giant Baleine field was discovered in 2021, two decades after the last commercial discovery in the country and it achieved production in record time, in 2023. Currently, Baleine produces over 62.000 barrels of oil and more than 75 million cubic feet of gas per day from Phases 1 and 2. With the launch of Phase 3, production is expected to rise to 150,000 barrels of oil and 200 million cubic feet of gas per day, positioning Baleine as a cornerstone in meeting the country's domestic energy needs.

Vitol, a global energy and commodities company, has had an upstream presence in West Africa region for many years.

About Eni

Eni is a global energy tech company operating in 64 Countries, with about 32,500 employees. Originally an oil & gas company, it has evolved into an integrated energy company, playing a key role in ensuring energy security and leading the energy transition. Eni's goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through the decarbonization of its processes and of the products it sells to its customers.
In line with this goal, Eni invests in the research and development of technologies that can accelerate the transition to increasingly sustainable energy. Renewable energy sources, bio-refining, carbon capture and storage are only some examples of Eni's areas of activity and research. In addition, the company is exploring game-changing technologies such as fusion energy - a technology based on the physical processes that power stars and that could generate safe, virtually limitless energy with zero emissions.

About Vitol

Vitol is a leader in the energy sector with a presence across the spectrum: from oil through to power, renewables and carbon. It trades 7.4 million barrels per day of crude oil and products, and charters circa 6,000 sea voyages every year.
Vitol’s clients include national oil companies, multinationals, leading industrial companies and utilities.
Founded in Rotterdam in 1966, today Vitol serves clients from some 40 offices worldwide and is invested in energy assets globally including: 17 m m3 of storage globally, circa 500 k b/d of refining capacity, over 7,000 service stations and a growing portfolio of transitional and renewable energy assets.