The Senegalese television channel RTS recently broadcast a column marking a historic turning point for Senegal: the exploitation of the Sangomar oil field, located off the coast of Dakar. This deposit, emerging from the ocean depths, brings to fruition years of underwater exploration and propels Senegal into the restricted circle of oil-producing countries, a resource sometimes nicknamed “devil’s droppings”.
The recent discovery of oil in Senegal requires us to revise our perception of economic geography according to a column on Radio Télévision Sénégalaise broadcast on June 14, 2024. According to the columnist, it was high time that the country could finally exploit its hydrocarbon resources. This long-awaited natural blessing places Senegal on the global black gold map. Why should Senegal not be entitled to this windfall that other nations have been exploiting for decades?
Taking the example of the United States, which has exploited oil since the 19th century, the columnist explains that this resource has profoundly influenced their economic development. Today, Senegal finally has the opportunity to follow a similar path, and it’s a chance we should be grateful for, perhaps to Thalassa, the goddess of the sea.
The challenge of global warming
However, the current global context is marked by growing awareness of global warming, largely attributed to the use of fossil fuels. This RTS column highlights the dilemma facing Senegal: how to reconcile new oil exploitation with the need to reduce carbon emissions? World leaders, while advocating the energy transition, sometimes seem to forget that their prosperity was built on the exploitation of coal and oil for more than a century. Should we give up this resource when their companies helped us drill our wells in exchange for vast sums of money?
A Historical Responsibility
This column calls for recognition of historical responsibility. Adapting to climate change does not mean giving up on our development. While Senegal prepares to extract conventional oil, other, more powerful nations do not hesitate to fracture oil shale, despite the ecological damage. Many experts believe that peak oil theorized by Marion King Hubbert in 1956, indicating the start of the decline in global production, has already been reached, or even exceeded. Although there is no complete consensus on this issue, it is certain that the volumes of oil extracted now exceed new discoveries.
The conclusion is simple according to the chronicle: it is time to navigate carefully in this new economic era for Senegal.
