AGL will construct roughly 200 tonnes of anchoring and mooring structures under the supervision of SAIPEM, a major engineering and construction company for energy projects.
These subsea structures include two anchoring systems with subsea umbilicals (estimated weight: 80 tonnes), six subsea attachment structures (estimated weight: 120 tonnes).
The five-month project will be completed at AGL’s subsidiary, Abidjan Ship Repair and Industrial Maintenance Company (CARENA). The completed structures will be deployed offshore at a depth exceeding 1,000 meters.
AGL will leverage its expertise and resources for the project, including qualified workforce (welders, slingers, crane operators, painters), equipped workshops, and direct sea access (advantageous for deployment). Moreover, approximately 100 Ivorian employees will be involved in construction.
This project signifies AGL’s commitment to supporting the country’s economic and social development through involvement in the oil sector. The use of a local company for construction contributes to technology transfer and development of a skilled Ivorian workforce.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Mines and Petroleum, represented by Bienvenu Esse, emphasized the project’s benefits of increased oil and gas production by year-end 2024, technology transfer and capture of investment through local manufacturing, and availability of state-of-the-art infrastructure.
The Director General of Hydrocarbons, Mr. Bienvenu Esse, encouraged companies operating in Côte d’Ivoire’s oil sector to prioritize local content, favoring Ivorian businesses and materials.
He also announced the acquisition of production and storage vessels dedicated to phase 2, expected to arrive by September 2024 with a total investment of $4 billion.
For phase 3 of the Baleine project, Mr. Esse encouraged the Italian energy group ENI to consider full in-country manufacturing, aiming to further increase the project’s added value for Côte d’Ivoire.
This project highlights Côte d’Ivoire’s efforts to leverage its oil resources for economic development while promoting local participation and expertise in the oil and gas sector.
AP/fss/abj/APA