Mauritania - Senegal: Signing of a protocol for local energy content

Mauritania and Senegal today signed a strategic memorandum of understanding focusing on local content, with the aim of consolidating the socio-economic benefits of the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) cross-border gas project. This major step forward was formalised at a bilateral meeting chaired by HEM Mohamed Ould Khaled, Mauritanian Minister of Energy and Petroleum, and HEM Birame Soulèye Diop, Senegalese Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines.

The agreement signed highlights a vision shared by both countries: maximising benefits for local populations and stimulating economic development in the oil and gas sectors.

The priority objectives defined in this protocol include :

-Creation of employment opportunities and local added value: ensuring greater involvement of local people in GTA project activities, particularly through direct and indirect employment.

-Training a skilled workforce: developing the skills of local human resources to meet the technical requirements of the oil and gas industries.

Technology transfer and national capacity-building: promoting the sharing of know-how between international operators and local companies, in order to guarantee the growing autonomy of national players.

-Competitiveness of local companies: supporting Mauritanian and Senegalese companies in their integration into international value chains.

The Grand Tortue Ahmeyim project, located on the maritime border between Mauritania and Senegal, is one of the largest gas projects under development in West Africa. This memorandum of understanding reflects the desire of the two countries to work closely together to transform their natural resources into genuine levers for sustainable development.

"This agreement marks a decisive turning point in our approach to energy development," said Mohamed Ould Khaled. "We are committed to making local content a priority to ensure long-term benefits for our people."

For his part, SEM Birame Soulèye Diop underlined the importance of this initiative: "Local content is not only an economic imperative, but also a strategic challenge for strengthening our energy and technological sovereignty".

Over and above the GTA project, this agreement symbolises a dynamic of increased regional cooperation between Mauritania and Senegal. The two countries are committed to working together to promote inclusive and sustainable development, while establishing themselves as key players in the energy sector in Africa and worldwide.

This strategic partnership around local content could serve as a model for other cross-border energy projects on the continent, strengthening regional economic integration and resilience.