Côte d’Ivoire’s Baleine Development Advances as Saipem Wins Major Offshore Infrastructure Contract
Côte d’Ivoire’s offshore energy sector is set for further expansion after Italian engineering group Saipem secured a major contract linked to the next phase of development at the Baleine oil and gas field, strengthening one of West Africa’s most significant recent energy projects.
According to Saipem’s announcement on 27 July 2026, the company was awarded two contracts by Eni and its subsidiaries with a combined value of approximately €800 million. One of the agreements covers subsea infrastructure for Baleine Phase 3 offshore Côte d’Ivoire, while the second relates to the expansion of renewable fuel production capacity at Eni’s biorefinery in Italy.
The Baleine Phase 3 contract was awarded by Eni Côte d’Ivoire and its partners and will involve the engineering, fabrication, transportation and installation of key subsea facilities required for the continued development of the field.
Saipem will be responsible for installing offshore infrastructure including pipelines, subsea production equipment, flexible connections and export systems. The project will take place in deep waters reaching approximately 1,300 metres and is expected to run for around three years, according to the company.
The development builds on the growing importance of the Baleine discovery, which has become a central element of Côte d’Ivoire’s strategy to expand domestic oil and gas production and strengthen energy security.
Discovered in 2021 by Eni and Côte d’Ivoire’s national oil company PETROCI, Baleine is considered one of the largest hydrocarbon discoveries in the country’s history. The field entered production in 2023, with subsequent development phases designed to increase output and expand the contribution of local gas resources to the economy.
For Côte d’Ivoire, increased gas availability has wider economic implications beyond the energy sector. Additional domestic supply can support electricity generation, industrial activity and efforts to attract investment into energy-intensive sectors.
The Saipem award also comes as African oil and gas producers continue to seek investment in infrastructure that can unlock natural resources while supporting economic transformation. Offshore projects require significant technical expertise and long-term capital commitments, making partnerships with international engineering companies a critical component of resource development.
Alongside the Côte d’Ivoire project, Saipem announced a separate contract from Enilive, Eni’s energy transition subsidiary, for the construction of a new processing unit at its Venice biorefinery.
The facility will support increased production of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a renewable fuel produced from biological feedstocks. Saipem said the project forms part of its broader cooperation with Eni in developing biofuel infrastructure.
Together, the two contracts highlight the changing nature of the global energy industry, where traditional oil and gas developments are increasingly taking place alongside investments in lower-carbon technologies.
For Côte d’Ivoire, the next phase of Baleine represents more than an offshore development project. It reflects the country’s broader effort to use energy resources as a foundation for industrial growth, improved energy reliability and increased participation in regional energy markets.
As West Africa’s economies compete for investment in energy infrastructure, projects that combine resource development with economic linkages are likely to remain central to attracting long-term capital.
