Energy Capital & Power (ECP), organizer of the first energy event to be held in West Africa, the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power Conference & Exhibition, is pleased to announce that the 3rd, edition of the event will take place in Mauritania on November 21 and 22, 2023 under the patronage of Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheik Ghazouani, President of the Republic of Mauritania, in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, the Mauritanian Company of Hydrocarbons and Mining Heritage (SMHPM), Petrosen, Cos Petrogaz and the African Chamber of Energy.
Announced by Mr. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, and Ms. Sophie Gladima, Minister of Petroleum and Energy of the Republic of Senegal, on the final day of the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power conference on September 2, 2022, the 2023 edition will bring together industry leaders, policy makers, investors, government leaders and local stakeholders. Keynote speeches, presentations, panel discussions, exhibitions and networking sessions will take place over two days to drive investment and deal-making in all areas of the energy value chains in the MSGBC region (Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Conakry).
Dedicated to the theme « Scaling Energy Opportunities in Africa’s New Frontier » (Developing Energy Opportunities in Africa's New Frontier), the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2023 conference aims to showcase and promote the development of natural gas and its role in the global energy transition. It also aims to position the region as an energy hub for gas, renewable energy and green hydrogen.
The year 2023, which will see the deployment of various projects across the energy value chain, will be a transformational year for the MSGBC region. For example, Senegal, is set to launch the Sangomar oil project which will produce 100,000 barrels per day, while the start of Phase 1 of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project which will supply 2.5 million tons per annum (mtpa) is scheduled for 2024. In addition, after launching a first major licensing round in 2020, the country is planning a second, even larger one. In terms of green energy, investors are interested in the country's solar and wind potential, building on the success of the 158 MW Taiba N'Diaye wind project.
Meanwhile, Mauritania, the host country for MSGBC 2023, has developed a comprehensive program to establish the country as an integrated regional green energy center and to foster the green steel industry. An extensive list of projects covers hydrocarbons and green hydrogen, and other plans include integrating the emerging energy sector with various other sectors such as mining. In addition to the GTA project developed in collaboration with Senegal, Mauritania aims to repeat the success of recently launched projects such as the BirAllah liquefied natural gas project (10 mtpa). In addition, two twin multi-GW green hydrogen projects promise to provide new opportunities for clean energy growth.
Also upstream, The Gambia will soon launch its second licensing round. With FAR Gambia Ltd announcing in 2022 that Gambia's A2 and A5 blocks have a potential of 1.5 billion barrels of oil, the bidding for these blocks is expected to attract interest from international companies. While the country's hydrocarbon market is taking promising first steps, opportunities in renewable energy are also developing, with The Gambia's energy mix including more than 50% renewable energy.
For its part, as part of its sustainable energy investment plan, Guinea-Bissau has mobilized $700 million for renewable energy development to achieve energy transformation by 2030. To this end, the country recently launched a tender for the award of five blocks in a special deepwater cycle, while a focus on electrification has encouraged foreign investment in renewable energy.
Finally, in Guinea-Conakry, the potential for growth in the mining, agriculture, and fisheries sectors has led to a renewed interest in the energy sector. New projects are constantly being launched in the solar and hydroelectric sectors.
In this context, the two-day event will present strategies for monetizing gas in the region and explain how West Africa can use its natural resources to promote socio-economic development, universal access to electricity and cross-border cooperation. Numerous technical and strategic sessions will be dedicated to discussion topics such as youth empowerment, women and energy, regional development, gas as a transitional energy, the latest developments in exploration and new licensing opportunities, among others.
With the flagship GTA and Sangomar oil fields and associated gas projects scheduled to begin production operations in 2023 and 2024, respectively, the MSGBC region is well positioned to capitalize on the basin's vast energy resources and spur the development of each member country's extractive industries, incentivizing local players to capture additional market share.
Driven by the need to meet the growing global demand for strategic minerals needed for electric vehicles and renewable energy development, West Africa is considered a prime destination for investors looking to expand their operations in the region. In addition, a well-established mining and extractive industry has helped to integrate local content development and attract foreign direct investment.
The 2023 conference agenda has been designed to cover the entire energy value chain in an inclusive and diverse manner to promote investment, stimulate discussion and encourage participation in the MSGBC region's energy sector. By participating in MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2023, stakeholders will have access to critical information on current and emerging sectors that will allow them to gain an in-depth understanding of the range of opportunities available in the MSGBC region's energy landscape.