On Monday 16 February 2026, the Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy announced a significant commercial hydrocarbons discovery in Côte d'Ivoire's offshore sedimentary basin.
The discovery, named Calao Sud, or CALAO South, was made in early February 2026 by Italian oil group Eni, the block's operator, in partnership with national company PETROCI Holding. It resulted from the successful drilling of the Murène South-1X exploration well in offshore block CI-501.
The well was drilled to a total depth of 5,058 metres, including around 2,200 metres of water, confirming the promising deepwater potential of the Ivorian basin. Located approximately 8 km southwest of the earlier Murène-1X well in neighbouring block CI-205, drilling revealed light oil, natural gas and condensates.
According to initial technical assessments, identified resources in place across blocks CI-501 and CI-205 are estimated at around 1.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent. These preliminary volumes position the discovery among the most significant recorded recently in Côte d'Ivoire's sector.
This advance forms part of a series of exploration successes since 2021, with several earlier discoveries, notably in 2021, 2022 and 2024, collectively estimated at several billion barrels. Together, these results strengthen the prospect of Côte d'Ivoire becoming a net crude oil exporter and a leading energy participant in West Africa by the end of the decade.
Beyond oil, the confirmed presence of natural gas is particularly important for national ambitions. Domestic gas is considered a strategic resource for electricity generation, securing national grid supply and increasing electricity export capacity to neighbouring countries. The discovery therefore reinforces Côte d'Ivoire's strategy for energy independence and sustainable development of the sector.
Through the Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, the Ivorian government welcomes this advance as confirmation of the substantial geological potential of the national sedimentary basin and the country's attractiveness to international investment in hydrocarbons exploration and production.
Further studies are currently under way to refine the resource assessment and define arrangements for developing the field. This work will clarify recoverable volumes and commercial development scenarios.
The new discovery marks another step towards transforming Côte d'Ivoire's energy landscape and supports the country's objectives for economic growth, job creation and regional influence in energy.