Mauritania: "Mauritania probably has the most attractive, most promising basin in Africa

In recent years, gas discoveries have been increasing in some countries on the continent. These include Senegal, Mauritania and Mozambique. For Mauritania, a country located in the MSGBC basin, the latest natural gas discoveries are "world class", which gives it the possibility of becoming a major player in global supply in the next few years. Growth from the exploitation of these fields should ultimately improve the national economic and financial environment.

La Mauritanie est l’un des rares pays africains où vous avez trois majors qui sont toujours en exploration à savoir Bp, Shell et TotalEnergies. Abdessalam Ould Mohamed Saleh, Minister of Oil

La compagnie pétrolière Shell avait signé avec le gouvernement mauritanien un contrat pour élargir son champ d’exploration dans le  bassin côtier du pays, en plus des deux blocs C-10 et C-19  qu’elle  explore déjà dans la zone. Shell est l’opérateur, avec une participation de 90 %, et la Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures (SMH), la Société Nationale des Pétroles de Mauritanie, détient une participation de 10 %.

TotalEnergies had announced that it had reached an agreement with the Mauritanian Ministry of Oil granting the French oil major two new exploration and production contracts for blocks C15 and C31. These are located in deep waters off Mauritania and cover an area of 14,175 m². Secondly, the oil company has recently strengthened its exploration activities in the country with the acquisition of two deepwater licenses on blocks C7 (with a 90% interest) and C18 (with a 45% interest). Total also has a licence on Block C9 (with a 90% interest). The total investment amounts to $70 million ('61.6 million).

Abdessalam Ould Mohamed Saleh a déclaré que : « Shell et TotalEnergies sont dans la dernière ligne droite qui va les amener à forer dans les mois à venir ; c’est dire que le bassin sédimentaire de la Mauritanie demeure très attractif sur la base des études et données disponibles. »

As Senegal and Mauritania have significant natural gas discoveries on their maritime borders, they have decided to jointly develop the gas resources of the Grand Tortue complex, which straddles their maritime border.

"For the GTA field shared with Senegal, we have already "planned" the first phase with 2.5 million tons in 2023 and from November we will start discussions on the second phase, which should double production, and then the third phase, which will increase production to 10 million tons, which will make Mauritania and Senegal two gas exporting countries," said Abdessalam Ould Mohamed Saleh, Mauritania's Minister of Oil

The gas-to-power strategy is planned in the first phase of production with 20% to be used for electrification in the domestic market of both countries. abdessalam Ould Mohamed Saleh, Minister of Oil

The Minister Abdessalam Ould Mohamed Saleh goes further with this, I quote: "It should be remembered that Mauritania has another large field, namely the BirAllah field, which is even larger than the GTA field. It will be developed in the future and a good part of the production could be destined for the Mauritanian market, both for electricity and also for industry.