Senegal and Mauritania usher in the era of liquefied natural gas with the GTA project

The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project, located on the maritime border between Senegal and Mauritania, reached decisive stages in 2024 and early 2025, marking the emergence of a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) production hub in the Atlantic Basin. Led by Kosmos Energy and its partners, this world-scale project positions the two West African nations as strategic players on the international energy market.

A historic double first

Announced in Kosmos Energy's fourth quarter 2024 financial and operating results, first gas production from the GTA project was achieved last December, followed by first LNG production in February 2025. "These are major milestones for the project, its partners and the people of Mauritania and Senegal," said Andrew G. Inglis, CEO of Kosmos Energy, when the results were released on 24 February 2025. Currently, the first cargo of LNG is being prepared for loading, with an LNG carrier already positioned at the central terminal, ready to inaugurate exports.

Located in deep waters, the GTA project exploits a cross-border deposit estimated at several trillion cubic feet of gas. This resource, shared between the two countries, is transformed into LNG using a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit, complemented by complex subsea infrastructure. With this first phase now operational, GTA becomes a key asset in the Kosmos portfolio, promising significant economic benefits for both nations.

A transition to profitability

After years of intensive investment, including $75.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 for oil and gas assets in Mauritania and Senegal, the project is entering a new dynamic. "With the initial capital-intensive phase complete, we will now maximise GTA's potential with significant scope to increase production and cash flow," explained Andrew G. Inglis. For 2025, Kosmos is forecasting an overall capital expenditure budget of $400 million, down by more than 50% on previous years, signalling a focus on cash generation.

The partnership, which includes BP (lead operator), Kosmos Energy, and the national oil companies Petrosen (Senegal) and SMH (Mauritania), is also working to optimise the costs of this first phase while exploring low-cost expansions. The aim is to make full use of the existing infrastructure, in particular through extensions to undeveloped areas of the field.

A driving force for regional development

For Senegal and Mauritania, GTA represents much more than an energy project. The revenues generated by LNG exports should finance essential infrastructure - schools, hospitals, roads - and stimulate the local economy. The collaboration between the two countries, supported by a cross-border agreement signed in 2018, guarantees a fair share of the benefits, strengthening their energy and economic sovereignty.

In terms of reserves, Kosmos' 2P estimates (proven and probable) reach around 530 million barrels of oil equivalent by the end of 2024, with a significant share attributed to GTA. This longevity, illustrated by a reserves-to-production ratio of 22 years, testifies to the project's sustainable potential. It should be noted that the neighbouring Yakaar-Teranga discoveries (Senegal) are not yet included in these figures, suggesting prospects for future expansion.

Future challenges and ambitions

Despite these advances, the start-up of GTA has not been without its challenges. Start-up costs, slightly higher than expected with $117 million of capital expenditure in the last quarter of 2024, reflect the complexity of a pioneering deepwater project. However, with production now underway, the focus is on optimisation and operational stability.

For 2025, Kosmos and its partners envisage a gradual ramp-up in production, which will contribute to the expected annual average of 70,000 to 80,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day for all their operations. GTA, with its ability to transform gas into exportable LNG, should play a central role in this growth, while consolidating Senegal's and Mauritania's place on the global energy map.

In short, the GTA project not only ushers in a new era for the West African LNG industry, it symbolises a shared ambition for sustainable development and regional cooperation, underpinned by strategic investment and a long-term vision.