Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko begins a three-day official visit to Mauritania this Sunday, at the invitation of his counterpart El Moctar Ould Diay. This visit, scheduled for January 13 and 14, will focus on several strategic sectors of cooperation between the two countries: energy, transport, security, fishing and conditions of stay. Ousmane Sonko will also have a meeting with the Senegalese community established in Mauritania.
This visit takes place in a particular context, marked by a major breakthrough in the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) cross-border gas project. This project, one of the largest deepwater gas discoveries in West Africa, is being developed jointly by Senegal and Mauritania, in partnership with the Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures (SMH), Petrosen, bp, and Kosmos Energy. The GTA project is expected to produce approximately 2.3 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually.
At the opening of the first gas well of the GTA project, the Minister of Energy, Oil and Mines, Birame Souleye Diop, declared that it was “a historic step for Senegal”. His Mauritanian counterpart, Mohamed Ould Khaled, highlighted “a promising energy future” for the region, emphasizing the capacity of the two nations to achieve ambitious objectives together.
-The GTA project is already generating significant socio-economic benefits, with the creation of more than 3,000 local jobs and the involvement of nearly 300 local companies in Mauritania and Senegal. An apprentice training program has been launched, with 47 technicians in preparation for future offshore operations.
On the sidelines of discussions on the GTA project, Ousmane Sonko and El Moctar Ould Diay will address other crucial issues to strengthen bilateral ties between their countries. This visit is part of a dynamic of increased collaboration to stimulate economic development and improve the quality of life of local populations through initiatives relating to community health, education and environmental awareness.
