The significant Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project, jointly operated by the American firm Kosmos Energy across the maritime border of Senegal and Mauritania, is once again in the spotlight. The Texas-based energy company has released new details concerning the ramp-up of this crucial transboundary field. Commercial production for the project’s initial phase commenced in early 2025. This development is under close scrutiny in Dakar, where Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has emphasized the strategic control of extractive resources as a central tenet of his administration.
A pivotal transboundary project for Dakar and Nouakchott
Initiated after extensive negotiations between the two capital cities, GTA exploits a gas reservoir situated precisely on the shared maritime frontier. The agreement establishes an equal, 50/50 split of resources between Senegal and Mauritania, a rare arrangement within West Africa’s extractive sector. Kosmos Energy leads the development efforts alongside bp, the long-standing operator of the concession, while the national oil companies, Petrosen for Senegal and Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures (SMH) for Mauritania, represent their respective states’ interests.
The first phase of the project relies on a floating liquefaction unit (FLNG) designed to process gas for export to international markets. The initial target capacity is approximately 2.3 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually. Kosmos indicates that production is steadily advancing towards its nominal plateau, following the successful technical commissioning completed last year and the initial cargo shipments already dispatched.
Kosmos energy navigating sénégalese political expectations
Since the Bassirou Diomaye Faye – Ousmane Sonko duo assumed power in March 2024, the project’s trajectory has been subject to rigorous oversight in Dakar. The Senegalese head of government has repeatedly articulated his intention to renegotiate or audit contracts inherited from the previous administration, which he views as imbalanced and disadvantageous to the state. This assertive stance has introduced a period of uncertainty for international operators, with Kosmos and bp at the forefront.
The recent communication from the American group specifically aims to provide reassurance regarding the operational timeline. Kosmos underscores the stability of its partnership with authorities in both nations and confirms ongoing technical discussions concerning subsequent development phases. Nevertheless, the company has adjusted certain ambitions downwards, as several financial analysts have observed a discrepancy between the initial objectives and the actual volumes produced during the initial months of operation.
Crucially, the successful ramp-up of the GTA field is expected to generate substantial budgetary revenues for both states. For Senegal, projections suggest annual revenues amounting to several hundred billion CFA francs once full capacity is achieved. These financial inflows are earmarked to replenish the intergenerational fund and the national budget, two essential mechanisms within Dakar’s natural resource management framework.
Phase 2, local content, and energy sovereignty
Beyond the initial phase, attention is now shifting towards the project’s expansion. GTA’s Phase 2, long discussed as a means to boost capacity to around 3 million tons annually, remains contingent on an agreement among industrial partners and governments. Kosmos has indicated that studies are progressing, though without a firm calendar commitment at this juncture. The prevailing international LNG prices and the operator’s stated debt reduction strategy also factor into this complex equation.
For both Dakar and Nouakchott, the issue of local content remains a sensitive priority. The Senegalese government has expressed its desire to see greater integration of national enterprises across the entire value chain, encompassing industrial subcontracting to logistical services. Ousmane Sonko has also raised the possibility of directing a portion of the gas production towards domestic supply, particularly to fuel thermal power plants and alleviate the nation’s energy costs.
However, the authorities’ room for maneuver is constrained by existing contracts and the imperative to maintain the attractiveness of the MSGBC sedimentary basin. Several adjacent blocks are still undergoing exploration, and the approach taken towards Kosmos and bp will serve as a critical signal to potential investors. The credibility of Senegal’s gas ambitions hinges as much on the operational performance of the FLNG unit as it does on the strategic decisions made within ministerial offices in Dakar.
