Senegal and neighboring Mauritania have officially launched gas production from the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) field, which straddles the maritime border between the two countries.
British oil company BP, one of the partners in the project, announced in a statement that it had “started producing gas from the wells of the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim field.” Other companies involved in the project include U.S.-based Kosmos Energy, Mauritania’s SMH, and Senegal’s Petrosen.
After six years of planning, the launch of the project was hailed as a “historic” milestone by Senegal’s Minister of Oil and Energy. The GTA field is expected to produce around 2.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually.
While Senegal and Mauritania’s production will not rival major gas exporters like Russia or Qatar, the two countries are optimistic that the field’s development will generate billions of dollars and help transform their economies.