MSGBC 2023: Ministerial Panel on Regional Cooperation and New Projects in West Africa

At the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2023 conference and exhibition, ministers from Mauritania, Senegal and Morocco met in Nouakchott on November 21 to discuss strategies for boosting the energy sector in West Africa. The session, chaired by NJ Ayuk of the African Energy Chamber, emphasized the importance of regional collaboration and provided information on major projects underway.

Nani O. Chrougha, Mauritania's Minister of Petroleum, Mines and Energy, addressed the challenges of green hydrogen, particularly in terms of transport and financing. Regional integration was highlighted as essential to facilitating trade and market access in the energy sector.

Leila Benali, Morocco's Minister for Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, stressed the need to reduce the risks associated with energy infrastructures, and highlighted the value of sharing resources such as gas fields and electricity interconnections.

Félix Antoine Diome, Senegal's Minister of Petroleum and Energy, has stressed the importance of diversifying the use of hydrocarbons beyond simple conversion into electricity, opening the way to new possibilities.

Participants discussed the rapid progress of hydrocarbon, hydrogen and renewable energy projects in Mauritania and Senegal. Final decisions are expected on the Birallah gas field and the Grande Tortue Ahmeyim project, with both countries aiming for rapid gas production. The Sangomar project in Senegal is also progressing, with the first barrels of oil expected in May 2024.

The discussion also focused on the development of Africa's domestic oil and gas market, balancing local content and the encouragement of investment, while pursuing regional collaboration.

The MSGBC 2023 conference and exhibition, organized in Nouakchott under the patronage of President Mohamed Ould Cheik Ghazouani, focuses on energy development in the MSGBC region, with the participation of several key institutions.