Aberdeen’s offshore engineering capabilities are taking part in a rising function in supporting fast-track deepwater growth in West Africa, as Altera Infrastructure highlighted this week on the Wider African Power Summit in Aberdeen.
Talking on the occasion, held in partnership with the African Power Chamber, Stig Bøtker, Altera’s Director of Enterprise Growth, stated the corporate more and more depends on its UK base to ship initiatives in rising African offshore hubs—most notably Ivory Coast’s quickly increasing Baleine growth.
Bøtker pointed to the Petrojarl Kong FPSO, now working on the Eni-operated Baleine discipline, as a number one instance. The vessel was redeveloped on an accelerated 24-month schedule, beginning in late 2022 and reaching first oil in December 2024. It at present processes 40,000 bpd of oil and 44 MMscf/d of gasoline, with the related gasoline supplying an onshore energy plant in Ivory Coast.
See additionally: UK offshore experience spotlighted as African producers pursue sooner oil and gasoline growth
Altera additionally secured $464 million in post-delivery financing by way of a U.S. personal placement—the primary transaction of its variety for a West African offshore venture—strengthening the business framework for future developments within the area.
A core focus, Bøtker stated, is increasing Ivory Coast’s power workforce and provider base. Altera has reached 85% Ivorian employment onshore and 46% offshore, supported by coaching applications, partnerships with technical establishments and hands-on growth aboard the corporate’s FPSOs.
“Strengthening native suppliers and constructing long-term functionality is important,” he stated. “It’s vital for us to proceed creating individuals and increasing the area’s technical capability.”
Bøtker added that Altera is deploying emissions-reduction applied sciences already used within the North Sea and goals to supply extra tools and companies domestically because the Baleine venture grows. The agency sees further venture alternatives forward in Ivory Coast, the place the federal government is pushing for sooner oil and gasoline growth to assist home power provide.
