Senegal: billion-dollar investment to transport gas

Senegal is taking a new step in the exploitation of its gas resources with the construction of a vast 400-kilometer pipeline network intended to ensure the transport of natural gas produced in the country. This large-scale project, representing a colossal investment of around one billion dollars, was announced by the general director of the Senegal Gas Network (RGS), Pape Momar Lo.

The ambitious gas transmission network aims to link production sites with consumption centres, thereby stimulating the country's economic growth. The first section of this network, currently under construction, represents an investment of nearly 320 million dollars. According to Pape Momar Lo, "the overall cost of the 400 km network project is estimated at six hundred and fifty billion FCFA". He also pointed out that "the first gas transport segment is currently being tendered at a cost of around CFAF 200 billion".

To ensure the success of this initiative, the RGS has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Agence pour la Promotion des Investissements et des Grands Travaux (APIX). The aim of this partnership is to facilitate administrative procedures and speed up the acquisition of the land needed to build the gas pipelines. Bakary Séga Bathily, Managing Director of APIX, emphasised that "this memorandum of understanding marks a shared objective: to overcome the challenges associated with expropriation and land management, while taking into account respect for the local communities affected".

This major step forward comes at a propitious time, when the British company BP recently launched production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim project, located off the coasts of Mauritania and Senegal. This project is an essential asset for the energy and economic development of Senegal and the sub-region. According to BP, "the first phase of the project is expected to produce approximately 2.3 million tonnes of LNG per year".

With this massive investment, Senegal is positioning itself as a key player in the West African gas sector. The construction of this infrastructure is a crucial step in guaranteeing the country's energy supply, attracting new investors and fostering industrial competitiveness. In short, the deployment of Senegal's gas network represents a genuine revolution for the country's energy sector, and an essential lever for its sustainable economic development.