The leaders of Senegal and Mauritania are jointly visiting the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim gas platform, a key milestone in the offshore gas project launched in 2025.
Presidents Bassirou Diakhar Faye of Senegal and Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani of Mauritania are making a joint visit to the Grand TortueAhmeyim (GTA) offshore platform this Thursday, May 22, APA learned from official sources.
The visit comes after the start of production in January 2025 and the first export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in April, confirming the success of this bilateral energy partnership.
Located about ten kilometers off the coasts of both countries, the GTA platform is operated by British Petroleum (BP), Kosmos Energy, Societe des Petroles du Senegal (PETROSEN), and Societe Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures (SMH). The project allows Senegal and Mauritania to join
the select group of African LNG-exporting countries.
In a statement sent to APA, British company BP confirmed that it had safely completed the loading of the first LNG cargo from the GTA field, located 10 km off the Senegalese-Mauritanian coast. This
project, declared of strategic national importance by both governments, exploits resources at a depth of more than 2,800 meters, representing a major advancement in gas exploitation in Africa.
Gordon Birrell, BP’s Executive Vice President of Production, described this first cargo as a significant milestone, emphasizing that this success culminates several years of work. Phase 1 of the project is
expected to produce approximately 2.4 million tonnes of LNG per year, supplying international markets while also planning for deliveries to domestic markets as soon as local infrastructure is ready. Since BP’s arrival in 2017, more than 3,000 local jobs have been created and approximately 300 local businesses have participated in the platform’s construction. BP is also conducting a social investment and training program, notably with 47 apprentice technicians trained to become the
next generation of offshore operators.
The group also supports local initiatives in fisheries, health, education, and microfinance.
The visit follows recent diplomatic meetings. On Tuesday, the Mauritanian president received a BP delegation in Nouakchott, led by its CEO, Murray Auchincloss, to discuss accelerating the second phase of the project.
The following day, the Senegalese president received the same delegation in Dakar, highlighting the project’s major progress with the loading of the first LNG cargo.
The Senegalese government considers this visit a major milestone in bilateral energy cooperation, an important lever for economic development and regional energy security.
AC/Sf/fss/as/APA