Eni has initiated oil and gas production from the Baleine field in the deep waters of Côte d'Ivoire, making it the first zero-emission project in Africa. The achievement comes less than two years after the field's discovery, in September 2021, and less than a year and a half after the final investment decision. "The launch of Baleine is a milestone in Eni's activities," says CEO Claudio Descalzi. Baleine is currently the largest hydrocarbon discovery in Côte d'Ivoire's sedimentary basin. All gas production from the field, both now and in the future, will be delivered to the ground via a newly constructed pipeline, allowing the country to satisfy the domestic electricity market, consolidate access to energy, and strengthen its role as a regional energy hub for neighboring countries. The stove's distribution, which began in 2022, will allow it to reach over one million people in the next six years. In the meantime, Eni has begun research for Nature Based Solutions projects on 380,000 hectares of protected forest.