The highly anticipated Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project, a joint venture operated by the American firm Kosmos Energy spanning the maritime border between Sénégal and Mauritanie, is once again in the spotlight. The Texas-based company has released new details concerning the ramp-up of this significant cross-border field, which saw its first phase commence commercial production in early 2025. This development is being closely monitored in Dakar, where Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has made the effective management of extractive resources a central policy of his administration.

A transformative cross-border project for Dakar and Nouakchott

Initiated following several years of intricate negotiations between the two capitals, GTA is situated within a gas field lying directly on the maritime boundary separating Sénégal and Mauritanie. The adopted revenue-sharing model is a rare and equitable 50/50 split between the two nations within the West African extractive industry. Kosmos Energy leads the development efforts alongside bp, the long-standing operator of the concession, while the national companies Petrosen for Sénégal and the Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures (SMH) represent the respective state interests.

The initial phase of the project relies on a floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) unit, designed to process the gas before its export to international markets. The target initial capacity is approximately 2.3 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year. Kosmos indicates that production is steadily advancing towards its nominal plateau, following the technical commissioning completed last year and the subsequent dispatch of initial cargoes.

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 subject to intense scrutiny in Dakar. The Senegalese head of government has firmly articulated his intention to renegotiate or audit contracts inherited from the previous administration, which he views as imbalanced and detrimental to the state. This assertive stance has introduced a period of uncertainty for international operators, particularly Kosmos and bp.

The American group’s recent communication precisely aims to offer reassurance regarding the operational timeline. Kosmos stresses the enduring stability of its partnership with the authorities of both countries and confirms ongoing technical discussions concerning subsequent development phases. Nevertheless, the company has recalibrated some of its ambitions downward, with several financial analysts noting a discrepancy between initial objectives and the actual volumes produced during the early months of operation.

Crucially, the successful ramp-up of the GTA field is essential for generating significant budgetary revenues for both states. On the Senegalese side, projections anticipate annual revenues reaching several hundred billion CFA francs once full capacity is achieved. These funds are designated to flow into the Intergenerational Fund and the national budget, two cornerstone instruments 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 tonnes annually, remains contingent on an agreement between industrial partners and governments. Kosmos has suggested 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 are also significant factors in this equation.

For both Dakar and Nouakchott, the issue of local content remains a sensitive point. The Senegalese government has expressed its desire to see a greater integration of national businesses throughout 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 thereby reduce the nation’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 adopted towards Kosmos and bp will serve as a crucial signal to potential investors. The credibility of Sénégal’s gas ambitions is being forged as much in the engine room of the FLNG unit as it is within the ministerial offices in Dakar.