Senegal has confirmed the start of the exploitation of its gas jointly with neighboring Mauritania since December 31, a step “historical”declared the Senegalese Minister of Oil, Birame Souleye Diop. In a press release received by AFP on Saturday, one of the companies responsible for operating the project, the British BP, announced that it had “started producing gas from the wells of the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) Phase 1 liquefied natural gas project to its floating production, storage and offloading vessel”.
Senegal and Mauritania had already announced on Wednesday the opening of the first well in their marine deposit, without further details. The Grandtorte/Ahmeyim (GTA) project, on the border with Mauritania, is expected to produce around 2.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year. Postponed several times, its exploitation was eagerly awaited in Senegal and should allow this poor West African country to transform its economy. “What we have had since December 31 is historic”the Minister of Oil declared on Friday to the national channel, RTS.
A $7.5 billion project
According to him, Senegal will benefit from 35 million cubic feet per day as will Mauritania. “The final goal is to use gas for domestic consumption and export”he added. The project began six years ago and cost about $7.5 billion, he said. Its development is ensured by BP, with the American Kosmos Energy, the Société du petroleum du Sénégal and the Société mauritanienne des hydrocarbures (SMH). The start of production comes seven months after Senegal entered the circle of hydrocarbon producing countries with the launch since June of oil extraction from the Sangomar field off the African coast by the Australian company Woodside.
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.
