BP Vice-president David Campbell makes unannounced visit to Mauritania

According to sources close to Taqadoumy, David Campbell, BP’s Executive Vice-president, visited Nouakchott over the week-end, meeting with Government officials from the energy sector. Following his visit, Campbell traveled to Dakar to discuss ways to resolve any remaining differences between Mauritania and Senegal, as the Ahmeyim LNG project nears its production and export phase.
Campbell’s visit aimed to encourage both governments to focus on the mutual benefits and significant opportunities offered by the project. Reports in industry publications have noted recent tensions between the two countries over the naming of support vessels, an issue Africa Intelligence called “frivolous.” The disagreement began in August, when BP, Kosmos Energy, and other partners were invited to propose names for the four support vessels that will operate in Mauritano-Senegalese waters.
BP suggested “Walo” (named after the area near the Senegal River), while Kosmos Energy recommended “Djoudj,” a region known for the world’s third-largest bird sanctuary near Saint-Louis, Senegal. Mauritania’s Hydrocarbons Company selected “Chamama,” and the Senegalese company Petersen proposed “Talatay Nder” (“Bloody Tuesday” in Wolof), commemorating a tragic event from 1820 in which the women of Nder village chose mass suicide over enslavement.
Upon learning of Senegal’s choice, Mauritania modified its proposal to “Bilad Chinguitt,” signaling the cultural significance both countries attach to this high-stakes LNG collaboration.