Mauritania reins in BP to respect commitments in connection to GTA gas project

Mauritania’s minister of Oil, Gas and Mines Nani O. Chrougha Tuesday October 3 reminded British Petrolium (BP) to abide by requirements and commitments taken in the execution of “Grand Tortue Ahmeyime (GTA)”, a Liquefied National Gas (LNG) project situated on the border with Senegal.

BP owns 56 per cent of project in which both Mauritania and Senegal are shareholders. The energy giant will start production in Q1 next year.

Chrougha who is attending the ongoing Abu Dhabi International Progressive Energy Congress (ADIPEC) 2023 stressed need by BP to fulfil the objectives of the project and meet the expected outcomes.

Chrougha who is also the deputy executive of the company running the gas project, reportedly stressed the need to use a significant proportion of this gas for the needs of national industrialization and the implementation of projects defined by the sector as part of the gas and oil orientation plan.

Grand Tortue Ahmeyim is located on the Senegalese-Mauritanian maritime border. Both countries signed an inter-government co-operation agreement (ICA) in February 2018, which provided for the development of the cross-border gas project with each country sharing resources and revenues on a 50/50 basis. They also granted GTA the status of ‘National Project of Strategic Importance’ in July 2021, Offshore-Technology reports.

GTA is expected to produce 2.3 million tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG in phase one. BP and partners also announced the development concept for phase two of the offshore LNG project in February 2023, which is expected to produce up to 3mtpa of LNG upon commissioning.