The **Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project**, operated by the American firm **Kosmos Energy** and straddling the maritime border between Sénégal and Mauritania, has once again garnered significant attention. The Texas-based company recently issued new information regarding the ramp-up of this cross-border field, whose initial phase began commercial production in early 2025. This development is being closely observed in Dakar, where Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has made asserting control over extractive resources a defining political objective of his current mandate.
A structuring cross-border project for Dakar and Nouakchott
Initiated after several years of intensive negotiations between the two capitals, the GTA project is situated on a gas field located precisely at the maritime boundary of both nations. The agreed sharing arrangement is equitable, with equal stakes for Sénégal and Mauritania—a distinctive structure within the West African extractive industry. Kosmos Energy leads the development alongside **bp**, the historic operator of the permit, while national companies **Petrosen** (Sénégal) and the Mauritanian Hydrocarbons Company (SMH) represent the states’ participation.
The first phase of the project centers around a floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) unit, designed to process gas prior to its export to international markets. The initial target capacity is approximately 2.3 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually. Kosmos has indicated that production is steadily advancing towards its nominal plateau, following a technical commissioning completed last year and the subsequent dispatch of initial cargoes.
Kosmos energy navigating senegalese political expectations
Since the ascension to power of the Bassirou Diomaye Faye – Ousmane Sonko duo in March 2024, the project’s trajectory has undergone close monitoring in Dakar. The Senegalese head of government has consistently emphasized his intention to renegotiate or audit existing contracts inherited from the previous administration, which are perceived as unbalanced and disadvantageous to the state. This stance has created a period of uncertainty for international operators, notably Kosmos and bp.
The American group’s recent communication aims specifically to provide reassurance regarding the operational timeline. Kosmos underscores the stability of its partnership with authorities in both nations and the continuation of technical discussions concerning subsequent phases. Nevertheless, the company has revised some ambitions downward, with several financial analysts noting a discrepancy between initial targets and actual production volumes achieved during the initial months of operation.
Crucially, the full ramp-up of the GTA field is essential for generating substantial budgetary revenues for both states. On the Senegalese side, projections anticipate hundreds of billions of CFA francs in annual revenue once full capacity is achieved. These financial flows are earmarked to replenish the Intergenerational Fund and the national budget, both key instruments within the natural resource management framework adopted in Dakar.
Phase 2, local content, and energy sovereignty
Beyond the initial tranche, the focus is shifting towards the project’s expansion. GTA Phase 2, long discussed to increase capacity to approximately 3 million tonnes annually, remains contingent on an agreement between industrial partners and governments. Kosmos has suggested that studies are ongoing, without a firm calendar commitment at this stage. The global LNG price environment and the operator’s stated debt reduction strategy also factor into 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 greater integration of national companies into the value chain, from industrial subcontracting to logistical services. Ousmane Sonko has also mentioned the possibility of directing a portion of gas production towards domestic supply, particularly to power thermal plants and decrease the nation’s energy costs.
However, the authorities’ latitude remains constrained by existing contracts and the necessity to preserve the attractiveness of the MSGBC sedimentary basin. Several adjacent blocks are still undergoing exploration, and the approach taken towards Kosmos and bp will signal to potential investors. The credibility of Sénégal’s gas ambitions is being shaped as much in the FLNG’s control room as in ministerial offices in Dakar.
