Senegal becomes world’s newest oil producer

Senegal’s Sangomar oil and gas field has produced its first oil, operator Woodside Energy said according to Reuters. This marks a key stage in the development of the West African country, where BP is set to start gas production before the end of the year at the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, which straddles the border with Mauritania. 

Sangomar is located offshore around 100 km south of the capital Dakar and is expected to produce around 100,000 barrels per day. A floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) ship for the project arrived earlier this year.

Senegal's newly elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has said his government would renegotiate oil, gas and mineral contracts with foreign operators in the country.

Addressing concerns of potential changes, Woodside's executive vice president for international operations Shiva McMahon said she had had a "very good meeting" with Senegal's new energy minister, Birame Souleye Diop, about two weeks ago.