H.E. Aissatou Sophie Gladima, Minister of Petroleum & Energy of Senegal, will be speaking at Africa Oil Week 2023 as her country prepares to start exporting gas and oil from 2024. Senegal’s participation at Africa Oil Week, from October 9-13 at CTICC 2 in Cape Town, comes at a historic time for the country given the upcoming commissioning of its most historic energy projects to date.  

Later this year, bp will achieve First Gas from the new 2.3 mtpa Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG hub located at its maritime border with Mauritania. The first LNG cargo is expected in early 2024 and will mark the entry of both West African countries into the club of African global gas exporters.  

With its partner Kosmos Energy, bp is already working on the expansion of the hub with a second phase that will rely on an innovative gravity-based structure (GBS) and could increase capacity by as much as 3 mtpa.  

But under the leadership of President Macky Sall and Minister Gladima, Senegal is also working hard to make sure its gas is used at home and benefits energy access and socio-economic development. The country wants to monetise gas to generate electricity, thereby displacing diesel and heavy fuel oil (HFO) and supporting new gas-to-power plants currently under construction. Domestic gas is also earmarked for fertilizer production to further boost Senegal’s already successful food production and self-sufficiency agenda.  

Such developments open a range of attractive investment opportunities in Senegal, from the laying of a new gas pipeline network to the development of gas distribution, processing, and off-take infrastructure.  

On the other side, Senegal is also set to start exporting oil next year with the commissioning of Woodside Energy’s Sangomar Offshore Oil Project. A new FPSO will be supporting a peak production of some 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), placing Senegal in the range of Africa’s fast-growing small and medium-sized oil producers.  

Part of the production will be processed by the country’s SAR Refinery, which recently completed an upgrade, while the rest will generate export revenues to support the country’s ambitious economic development programs.  

And this is just the beginning. Senegal is located within the MSGBC Basin (Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry) that host tremendous exploration potential. A key well is expected offshore Guinea-Bissau in 2024, but several other blocks and prospects are being sought after by the industry across each country.  

Minister Gladima will be joining Africa Oil Week at a critical time and will lead a dialogue on Senegal’s energy opportunities and the broader prospect of investments in the MSGBC Basin. She joins a confirmed list of ministerial and private sector officials from across the region, including Mauritania, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau who will all convene at Africa Oil Week 2023 to support dealmaking and showcase the growth potential of West Africa’s energy sector.