Mauritania says Greater Tortue will spearhead gas sales to Europe: press
The oil minister of Mauritania has said BP's Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project could be a springboard for West Africa to meet soaring European gas demand, as the continent tries to shift away from its reliance on Russian suppliers, Reuters reported June 23.
Surging gas prices have created a significant opportunity for African gas exporters, according to the oil minister Abd Esseleman Ould Mohamed Salah. But African producers must act quickly as Europe's anticipated pathway to net zero means depressed fossil fuel demand is likely from 2030 onwards.
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"In this 10-year period from now until 2030, priority is given to exploiting all the potential of the country in terms of gas," Salah said. "Recent prices have opened the opportunity for Mauritania, Senegal as well as other African countries to export more gas to Europe. Europe needs to diversify its supply resources, so that fantastic opportunity - we need not miss it."
The first phase of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project has been pushed back to the second half of 2023 because of the coronavirus pandemic, supplier delays and cost inflation. It will offer a liquefaction capacity of 2.5mn metric tons/year, targeting 15 trillion ft3 of natural gas reserves situated off the coasts of Mauritania and Senegal.
BP and its project partners are contemplating a final investment decision on a possible second phase, which would use Greater Tortue's existing floating gas production infrastructure. The project's other investors are independent E&P company Kosmos Energy and national oil companies Petrosen and SMPHM, acting on behalf of Senegal and Mauritania respectively.