Azerbaijan’s SOCAR buys 10% stake in Côte d’Ivoire’s Baleine oil field

• SOCAR takes 10% of Côte d’Ivoire’s flagship Baleine offshore field
• Deal reshapes ownership as production targets surge

ABIDJAN, COTE D’IVOIRE – Azerbaijan’s state oil firm SOCAR has acquired a 10% stake in the Baleine offshore field, underscoring rising foreign interest in Côte d’Ivoire’s fast-growing oil sector.

SOCAR’s entry into Baleine, the country’s flagship oil and gas project, follows a deal concluded with Italian energy major Eni, which remains the principal operator. Côte d’Ivoire’s ministry of petroleum confirmed the transaction, describing it as a milestone for the country’s upstream ambitions.