The Africa Atlantic gas pipeline at the heart of a new energy strategy thanks to the Senegal-Mauritania field

The start-up of the offshore Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) field, located between Mauritania and Senegal, marks a major step forward for the energy sector in West Africa. With reserves estimated at 15,000 billion cubic feet of recoverable gas, this site is one of the largest deposits on the continent, offering new economic and strategic prospects for the region.

With an investment of more than 4.8 billion dollars for its first phase, the GTA project symbolises the energy ambitions of the two neighbouring nations. The first gas flows, expected at the end of 2024, will rapidly position this field as a key player in the regional energy transition and a strategic alternative for Europe, which has been seeking to further diversify its sources of supply since the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.

Samuel Mathey, a well-known economist, says: "This is a new deal that will change the growth of both countries". Indeed, the economic spin-offs and geopolitical impact of this project should extend beyond the borders of Mauritania and Senegal.

In the wake of this dynamic, the Africa-Atlantic gas pipeline project is emerging as an essential infrastructure for connecting the gas resources of sub-Saharan Africa to Morocco and, beyond, to European markets. The 6,000-kilometre pipeline, estimated to cost $25 billion, will cross 13 countries and have a transport capacity of up to 40 billion cubic metres a year.

Supported by the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) and ECOWAS, this project could become a cornerstone in meeting growing global energy demand and offering a sustainable alternative to the current energy hegemony.

For the European Union, the GTA field and the Africa Atlantic gas pipeline represent crucial opportunities to diversify energy imports, which have historically been dominated by Russia. With infrastructures such as the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, which link Russia directly to Germany and have a total capacity of 110 billion m³ per year, Europe's energy dependence is reaching worrying levels.

According to the Policy Center, this concentration of supplies, coupled with the tense geopolitical context, accentuates the need for Europe to turn to other reliable energy partners.

The development of GTA has raised questions about its potential impact on the Morocco-Nigeria mega-project, an ambitious gas pipeline that also aims to bring African gas to Europe. However, experts point out that the two projects are complementary.

Said Guemara, an energy specialist, notes: "Morocco's project is based in 13 countries. It's not the same calibre in terms of coverage". An analysis shared by Driss Aissaoui, an economist: "The figures for the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline far exceed those for Mauritania and Senegal. In his view, these projects offer complementary solutions for meeting the growing demand for energy.

For geopolitical expert Anas Abdoun, the GTA field could form part of a global vision of African energy interconnection. "These projects are not in competition, they are complementary. Together, they strengthen Africa's place in the global energy landscape".

With the start-up of the GTA and the growing ambition of structuring projects such as the Africa-Atlantic gas pipeline and the Morocco-Nigeria pipeline, West Africa is positioning itself as a key player in global energy. These initiatives are not just economic levers; they are also instruments for regional transformation and for strengthening international alliances.