Senegal and Mauritania launch historic gas production at grand tortue ahmeyim

The Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project has achieved a groundbreaking milestone as it begins producing its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments, marking a significant leap forward for both Senegal and Mauritania in the global energy sector.

On December 31, officials from both nations confirmed that gas had started flowing from wells to the floating production, storage, and offloading vessel (FPSO) stationed offshore at their shared maritime border. This achievement underscores the first-ever LNG production within the framework of this landmark offshore initiative, as announced by Kosmos Energy, a key operator in the project.

A few months prior, on June 25, 2024, the Senegalese presidency declared that the Sangomar oil field, located roughly 100 kilometers south of Dakar, had successfully delivered its maiden barrels of crude oil. This development further solidified the country’s position as an emerging player in West Africa’s energy landscape.

The GTA gas project is a collaborative effort led by BP as the majority shareholder, alongside partners including Kosmos Energy, the Petroleum Corporation of Senegal (Petrosen), and the Mauritanian Society of Hydrocarbons and Mining Heritage (SMHPM). The project is currently being operated by British Petroleum (BP).

According to Mohamed Ould Khaled, Mauritania’s Minister of Energy and Petroleum, and his counterpart Birame Souleye Diop from Senegal, the GTA project is projected to yield approximately 2.5 million tons of LNG annually. Future expansion plans aim to boost this output to 10 million tons per year, as outlined by the Mauritanian News Agency quoting Ould Khaled.

In addition to GTA, Senegal operates another major gas field, Yakaar-Teranga, while the Sangomar oil field is being developed by the Australian firm Woodside Energy.