Le 31 décembre 2024, à 16 heures, le Sénégal et la Mauritanie sont officiellement entrés dans le cercle restreint des nations productrices de gaz avec l’ouverture du premier puit de production. Une date historique marquée par la première production de gaz du projet Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA), menée par BP en partenariat avec Kosmos Energy et les gouvernements des deux pays. Cet exploit est le fruit d’une collaboration intense et d’un engagement sans faille pour développer un projet ambitieux, transformant la région en un pôle énergétique stratégique.
The GTA project draws its resources from reservoirs located 120 kilometres offshore and at a depth of 2,850 metres underwater. The gas is extracted through a subsea system of four wells, connected to a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. The FPSO treats the fluids from the wells before transferring the liquids to shuttle tankers and transporting the gas through a pipeline to a 2.5 million tonne-per-year floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessel, protected by a specially designed concrete breakwater.
The complex, which also includes a central terminal for services and accommodation, is a technological feat that is already more than 75% complete. The first commercial exports are expected by 2025, marking a significant step forward in the exploitation of the region's energy resources.
The GTA block contains estimated reserves of 425 billion cubic metres of gas, enough to guarantee an initial production of 2.5 million tonnes per year of LNG, with the possibility of doubling this capacity to 5 million tonnes per year. This would correspond to an annual supply of 3.69 billion cubic metres of natural gas for the first phase, and 7.37 billion cubic metres if a second phase is implemented.
However, despite these significant figures, GTA's production remains modest compared with the volumes historically supplied by giants such as Russia. Nevertheless, this project is a key link in the diversification of global energy supplies.
To maximise the benefits of this discovery, Senegal has revised its 1998 Petroleum Code, adapting it to the realities of today's energy sector. Mauritania, for its part, has opted for greater openness to foreign investment and close cooperation with international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF. These reforms aim to create an environment conducive to sustainable economic development, while fully integrating these resources into the global economy.
Le projet GTA symbolise une étape cruciale dans l’histoire énergétique du Sénégal et de la Mauritanie. En s’appuyant sur des partenariats solides et une vision à long terme, ces deux nations africaines sont sur le point de devenir des acteurs incontournables sur la scène énergétique mondiale. Alors que les travaux se poursuivent, il est essentiel de maintenir le cap et d’assurer une exploitation responsable et équitable de ces ressources, pour le bénéfice des populations locales et du développement régional.
With this first commercial gas production, which will follow in mid-January, Senegal and Mauritania are confirming their pioneering role and strengthening their position as drivers of energy growth in West Africa.