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.
Mauritania is one of the few African countries where you have three majors that are still exploring, namely Bp, Shell and TotalEnergies.
Abdessalam Ould Mohamed Saleh, Minister of Oil
The oil company Shell had signed a contract with the Mauritanian government to expand its exploration field in the country's coastal basin, in addition to the two blocks C-10 and C-19 it is already exploring in the area. Shell is the operator, with a 90% stake, and Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures (SMH), the national oil company of Mauritania, has a 10% stake.
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 Shell and TotalEnergies are in the home stretch that will lead them to drill in the coming months, which means that the Mauritanian sedimentary basin remains very attractive based on the studies and data available.
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.