Kosmos energy provides update on Senegal-Mauritania grand tortue ahmeyim gas project

The pivotal Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project, a joint venture between Senegal and Mauritania operated by the American firm Kosmos Energy, is once again in the spotlight. The Texas-based company has released new details regarding the ramp-up of this transboundary field, which saw its first phase commence commercial production in early 2025. This development is closely monitored by Dakar, where Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has made the strategic management of extractive resources a defining political objective of his administration.

A pivotal cross-border project for Dakar and Nouakchott

Initiated after several years of negotiations between the two capitals, GTA is situated on a significant gas reservoir straddling the maritime border of Senegal and Mauritania. The agreed-upon sharing model is unique in West African extractive industries, with an equal split between the two nations. Kosmos Energy leads the development alongside bp, the long-standing operator of the concession, while national companies Petrosen and the Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures (SMH) represent the states’ interests.

The initial phase of the project relies on a floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) unit designed to process gas for export to international markets. The targeted initial capacity is approximately 2.3 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year. Kosmos reports that production is steadily progressing towards its nominal plateau, following technical commissioning completed last year and the first cargo shipments already dispatched.

Kosmos Energy navigates senegalese political expectations

Since the Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko tandem assumed power in March 2024, the project’s trajectory has been under intense scrutiny in Dakar. The Senegalese head of government has repeatedly affirmed his intention to renegotiate or audit contracts inherited from the previous administration, which he deems unbalanced and detrimental to the state. This stance has created a period of uncertainty for international operators, with Kosmos and bp at the forefront.

The recent communication from the American group aims precisely to provide reassurance regarding the operational timeline. Kosmos underscores the stability of its partnership with authorities in both countries and confirms ongoing technical discussions concerning subsequent phases. Nevertheless, the company has reportedly adjusted some ambitions downwards, with several financial analysts observing a discrepancy between initial targets and the actual volumes produced during the initial months of operation.

Crucially, the full ramp-up of the GTA field will generate significant budgetary revenues for both states. For Senegal, projections anticipate several hundred billion CFA francs in annual income once full capacity is achieved. These funds are earmarked to nourish the Intergenerational Fund and the national budget, two essential mechanisms within Dakar’s natural resource management framework.

Phase 2, local content, and energy sovereignty

Beyond the first phase, the focus shifts to the project’s expansion. GTA’s Phase 2, long discussed to boost capacity to around 3 million annual tonnes, remains contingent on an agreement between industrial partners and governments. Kosmos has indicated that studies are continuing, though without a firm calendar commitment at this stage. The prevailing international LNG prices and the operator’s stated debt reduction strategy also factor into the overall equation.

For both Dakar and Nouakchott, the issue of local content remains sensitive. The Senegalese government has expressed its desire for greater integration of national businesses across the value chain, from industrial subcontracting to logistics services. Ousmane Sonko has also raised the prospect of allocating a portion of the gas production for domestic supply, particularly to fuel thermal power plants and reduce the nation’s energy import bill.

However, the authorities’ latitude remains constrained by existing contracts and the imperative to maintain the attractiveness of the MSGBC sedimentary basin. Several adjacent blocks are still undergoing exploration, and the approach taken with Kosmos and bp will serve as a crucial signal to potential investors. The credibility of Senegal’s gas ambitions hinges as much on the operational performance of the FLNG as it does on ministerial decisions in Dakar.