The Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project, jointly operated by American firm Kosmos Energy across the maritime border of Senegal and Mauritania, is once again drawing significant attention. The Texas-based company has released new details regarding the ramp-up of this crucial transboundary field, which saw its first phase commence commercial production in early 2025. This development is closely monitored by Dakar, where Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has made the effective management of extractive resources a defining political objective of his administration.
A structuring cross-border initiative for Dakar and Nouakchott
Launched after several years of negotiations between the two capitals, GTA exploits a gas reservoir situated precisely on the maritime frontier separating Senegal and Mauritania. The agreed sharing mechanism is unique in West Africa’s extractive industry, stipulating an equal division of resources between the two nations. Kosmos Energy spearheads the development alongside bp, the long-standing permit operator, while national companies Petrosen for Senegal and the Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures (SMH) for Mauritania represent the states’ stakes.
The initial phase of the project relies on a floating liquefaction unit (FLNG) designed to process gas for export to international markets. The target initial capacity for this phase is approximately 2.3 million tons of liquefied natural gas per year. Kosmos reports that production is steadily progressing towards its nominal plateau, following the completion of technical commissioning last year and the successful dispatch of the first cargo shipments.
Kosmos Energy navigates Senegalese political expectations
Since the Bassirou Diomaye Faye – Ousmane Sonko duo assumed power in March 2024, the project’s trajectory has been under stringent review in Dakar. The Senegalese head of government has repeatedly articulated his intention to renegotiate or audit contracts inherited from the previous administration, which he deems unbalanced and detrimental to the state’s interests. This stance has introduced a period of uncertainty for international operators, notably Kosmos and bp.
The American group’s recent communication aims specifically to allay concerns regarding the operational timeline. Kosmos underscores the stability of its partnership with authorities in both countries and confirms ongoing technical discussions concerning subsequent phases. Nevertheless, the company has adjusted some of its ambitions downwards, with several financial analysts observing a discrepancy between initial targets and the actual volumes produced during the early months of operation.
Crucially, the successful ramp-up of the GTA field will generate substantial budgetary revenues for both states. For Senegal, projections anticipate several hundred billion CFA francs in annual income once full capacity is achieved. These funds are designated to flow into the Intergenerational Fund and the national budget, two key mechanisms within Dakar’s adopted natural resource management framework.
Phase 2, local content, and energy sovereignty
Beyond the initial phase, attention is now shifting towards the project’s extension. GTA’s Phase 2, long discussed to increase capacity to approximately 3 million annual tons, remains contingent on an agreement between industrial partners and governments. Kosmos has indicated that studies are continuing, 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 the overall equation.
For both Dakar and Nouakchott, the issue of local content remains a sensitive point. The Senegalese government has expressed its strong desire to see more national enterprises integrated into the value chain, encompassing everything from 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 reduce the country’s energy import bill.
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 with Kosmos and bp will serve as a critical signal to potential investors. The credibility of Senegal’s gas ambitions is being forged as much in the FLNG’s engine rooms as in the ministerial offices of Dakar.