Senegal and Mauritania start exploiting a common gas field

Senegal and Mauritania are taking a step towards exploiting their common gas with “the opening of the first well” of their marine deposit, an important step leading to “marketing” of the product, indicates a joint press release published this Wednesday 1^is January. “The ministries responsible for Energy in Mauritania and Senegal, Petrosen and the Société mauritanienne des hydrocarbures (two Senegalese and Mauritanian public companies) proudly announce the official opening of the first well of the GTA deposit [Grand tortue/Ahmeyim, NDLR].»

“The achievement of this important milestone marks a major step in the completion of the GTA project and consolidates the existing exemplary partnership between Mauritania and Senegal, now destined to play a key role in the regional energy industry”continues this press release from Dakar and Nouakchott. “We are in the testing phase” for the upcoming start of production of the GTA gas project, a person involved in the management of the sector said on Wednesday.

2.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year

The Grand Tourtoise/Ahmeyim (GTA) project, on the border with Mauritania, is being developed by the British BP with the American Kosmos Energy, the Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures (SMH) and Petrosen. It is expected to produce around 2.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year. The start of production initially announced for the end of 2024 had been postponed to 2025, without specifying an additional date. The opening of this first gas well “opens the way for the start of gas marketing planned very soon”said the press release.

Since June, Senegal has entered the circle of hydrocarbon-producing countries with the start of oil extraction from the Sangomar field by the Australian company Woodside. This deep-water field, about 100 km south of Dakar, contains oil and gas. The project, whose development was launched in 2020, required around $5 billion in investments, according to the company. It targets production of 100,000 barrels per day.

Oil and gas production in Senegal will be intended for export and domestic consumption. It will be far from reaching the levels of global and African giants like Nigeria. But revenues in the billions of dollars are expected, as well as an accelerated transformation of the economy. In his New Year's speech, the new Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, elected in March, said Tuesday evening “guarantee optimal and transparent exploitation of oil and gas resources for the benefit of the national economy and current and future generations”. The new Senegalese authorities have announced an audit of oil and gas contracts.