Senegal: Oil and gas exploitation opens "a new era" for the country (Prime Minister)

The Senegalese Prime Minister, Amadou Ba, came back on Monday, on the oil and gas exploitation which opens a "new era" for Senegal, in his general policy statement before the deputies.

"It is with the same concern to look to the future that I come to the new era that is opening before us, that of oil and gas production in our beloved country," said Amadou Ba.

"This is an enormous opportunity for our economy, our private sector, our companies and workers," he added, stressing that "the energy policy that is being implemented is based on the vision that the Head of State, Macky Sall, has set out in the PSE" (Emerging Senegal Plan).

"The Sangomar project is at 67% completion rate; the first oil date is scheduled for the end of 2023. The GTA project has reached a progress rate of 83% at the end of August 2022; the first gas is scheduled for the beginning of 2024," he added in a tone of optimism.

With Senegal's entry into the circle of oil and gas producing countries, the electricity supply system "will be strengthened through the development of power plant projects with diversified sources, with a view to securing the availability of electricity supply but also to lowering its costs", insisted the Head of Government.

Energy development is a key chapter in the government's Emerging Senegal Plan, which aims to transform the country's economy into a growth economy and put it on the road to emergence by 2025.