Italian energy group Eni has announced a major gas and condensate discovery offshore Ivory Coast, strengthening the country’s position as one of West Africa’s fastest-growing hydrocarbon producers.
The discovery, named Calao South, was made following the drilling of the Murene South-1X well, the first exploration well in offshore Block CI-501. The block is operated by Eni with a 90 percent stake, in partnership with state-owned Petroci Holding.
In a statement on Monday, Eni said the find confirms the significant potential of the Calao channel complex, which already includes the Calao discovery. The company described Calao South as Ivory Coast’s second-largest hydrocarbon discovery after Baleine, with estimated resources of up to 5 trillion cubic feet of gas and 450 million barrels of condensate equivalent to around 1.4 billion barrels of oil.
The latest discovery reinforces Eni’s growing role in Ivory Coast’s offshore energy sector, where the Italian group has been operating for about a decade. Over that period, Eni has focused on fast-track development projects designed to quickly bring new discoveries into production and meet rising domestic energy demand.
Ivory Coast’s offshore fortunes were transformed by the discovery of the Baleine field, the country’s largest hydrocarbon development to date. Baleine is being developed in phases, allowing for a rapid scale-up of production. Output from the field is expected to rise significantly with the launch of Phase 3, reaching around 150,000 barrels of oil per day and 200 million cubic feet of gas per day.
According to Eni, this production growth will make Baleine a strategic asset for Ivory Coast, particularly in meeting domestic energy needs. Natural gas from offshore fields plays a critical role in the country’s power generation mix, helping to stabilise electricity supply, reduce fuel imports, and support industrial activity.
The Calao South discovery adds to confidence in the broader offshore basin and highlights the remaining exploration potential in Ivorian waters. Analysts say the size of the find could support future development projects, depending on appraisal results and market conditions.
For the Ivorian government, the discovery aligns with a broader strategy to leverage natural gas resources to drive economic growth while maintaining energy security. By partnering international operators such as Eni with the national oil company Petroci, authorities aim to attract investment, develop local expertise, and maximise long-term benefits from offshore resources.
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Eni said further studies and appraisal activities will be carried out to fully define the scale and development options for Calao South. If confirmed, the discovery could further cement Ivory Coast’s emergence as a key offshore gas hub in the Gulf of Guinea, at a time when regional demand for reliable and cleaner energy sources continues to grow.
Ivory Coast has steadily emerged as a new offshore oil and gas frontier in West Africa, driven by sustained exploration activity and investor interest over the past decade. The country’s upstream sector is anchored on deepwater acreage in the Gulf of Guinea, where improved seismic data and favourable geology have unlocked significant hydrocarbon potential.
Eni entered Ivory Coast in 2015 and has since become the country’s leading offshore operator. Its most significant breakthrough came with the discovery of the Baleine field, the largest hydrocarbon find in the nation’s history. Baleine has reshaped Ivory Coast’s energy outlook, with phased development allowing for rapid production growth to meet domestic demand.
Production from Baleine is expected to rise sharply with the launch of Phase 3, boosting output to around 150,000 barrels of oil and 200 million cubic feet of gas per day. Authorities see the field as strategic for reducing fuel imports, stabilising power generation, and supporting industrial development, particularly in electricity and petrochemicals.
The state maintains participation in offshore projects through Petroci Holding, which partners international operators to ensure national interests are preserved. This partnership model has been central to Ivory Coast’s hydrocarbons strategy, combining foreign technical expertise with local oversight.
Natural gas plays a key role in the country’s energy transition, as the government prioritises cleaner fuels to support economic growth while limiting reliance on oil. New discoveries, including Calao South, reinforce confidence in the Calao channel complex and highlight the depth of remaining offshore potential.
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As regional demand for gas grows and investment shifts toward fast-to-market projects, Ivory Coast is positioning itself as a reliable energy producer in West Africa, with offshore gas discoveries expected to underpin long-term economic and energy security goals.
