BP says it has plugged gas leak off the coast of Senegal and Mauritania

BP has halted a three-week gas leak at the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) field off Senegal and Mauritania, the company announced Thursday according to AFP. The leak, discovered on February 19 at one of four wells, had raised alarm among environmental groups, particularly Greenpeace Africa, which warned of potential harm to a nearby deep-water coral reef.

BP installed a tree cap on Wednesday, stopping the gas release, and stated that the environmental impact was "negligible" due to the low leak rate. However, Greenpeace and local fishing communities in Senegal’s Saint-Louis have criticized the company for a "total lack of transparency" and warned of possible long-term damage. 

The GTA field, which began production on December 31, is expected to produce 2.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year. BP has pledged ongoing monitoring to ensure no further leaks occur.