The Whale deposit is entering its last phase in the most beautiful way. Indeed, the Palais des Congrès at the Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire hosted a historic signing worth $4 billion in terms of investments in the said deposit, in the presence of Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, on May 25, 2026 in Abidjan. Luca Faccenda, Managing Director of ENI Côte d'Ivoire, and representatives of PETROCI Holding and Vitol have signed their signatures on an agreement which marks the culmination of a project carried out in three successive phases since 2023, the Baleine deposit.

This third and final phase aims to increase the production of crude oil to 150,000 barrels per day and that of natural gas to 200 million cubic feet per day, compared to respectively 60,000 barrels and 80 million cubic feet currently. A productive link which should structurally transform Ivorian energy sovereignty. Added to this potential are reserves estimated at 2.5 billion barrels of crude oil and 3,300 billion cubic feet of natural gas. The Consortium is made up of ENI (47.25%), Vitol (30%) and PETROCI Holding (22.75%), following the sale by ENI of part of its interests to Vitol in September 2025. This tripartite structure illustrates the Ivorian strategy of attracting international private capital while maintaining national public participation.

With this signed Final Investment Decision, Côte d'Ivoire confirms its trajectory towards the status of a major oil producer in West Africa by 2028. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Mines, Oil and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly.