Le Sénégal s’apprête à franchir une étape majeure dans la gestion de ses ressources pétrolières. À partir de 2028, les 100 000 barils de brut produits quotidiennement à Sangomar seront raffinés localement grâce au projet SAR 2.0, une initiative ambitieuse annoncée par le ministre du Pétrole et des Mines, Birame Souleye Diop.
During a visit to the facilities of Société Africaine de Raffinage (SAR), the Minister said that the aim of this initiative was to process all Senegalese crude to meet the country's energy needs. "SAR is in the process of resizing itself to refine local crude and offer affordable prices to the Senegalese people", he said. This announcement was made in a context marked by a ceremony to pay tribute to SAR retirees, as a symbol of recognition for their past contributions.
The Minister also pointed out that Senegal officially became an oil-producing country in June 2024, underlining the importance of having local infrastructure in order to make the most of its resources. "It would be inconceivable to have oil resources without the capacity to process them locally", he added.
The SAR 2.0 project is fully in line with the "Senegal 2050" vision, which seeks to guarantee the country's energy sovereignty while positioning SAR as a key player in Africa. According to the Minister, this strategy will help to reduce Senegal's dependence on energy imports while stimulating sustainable economic growth.
Mamadou Abib Diop, Managing Director of SAR, reiterated the importance of this project as part of the country's energy ambitions. "The SAR 2.0 project marks an essential stage in Senegal's energy transformation. It will enable us not only to maximise the added value of our resources, but also to strengthen our position on the regional market", he explained.
With the SAR 2.0 project, Senegal aims to become a regional model for the management and processing of oil resources. The project will enable SAR to process local crude while reducing costs for consumers. It will also create employment opportunities and promote skills transfer.
At the end of his visit, the Minister encouraged SAR staff to prepare for future challenges and to support this major transition. He concluded by saying that the SAR 2.0 project represents a decisive step towards greater energy independence and a prosperous future for Senegal.