Nearly two years after the massive Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility – a building designed for hydrocarbons produced at sea – embarked on its journey from China, weaving through Singapore on its way to Senegal and Mauritania, a striking image landed in the office of the energy and petroleum minister. BP had just sent over a photo capturing the first gas flare.

For Mauritania and Senegal, this was a symbol of triumph. After nearly a decade since the discovery of this large gas field in 2015, GTA had reached a moment of welcome relief and anticipation for what lies ahead.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2025, the $4.8bn Greater Tortue Ahmeyim liquefied natural gas platform is set to spring into action. Helmed by British oil powerhouse BP and US-based Kosmos Energy, this ambitious project will bring one of Africa’s most anticipated gas ventures to life, tapping into vast offshore reserves that promise to reshape the region’s energy landscape. The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim field boasts an impressive 1,400bn cubic metres of gas reserves spread across a vast 33,000 square kilometres. In its first phase, set to run through 2025, the project will yield 2.5m tonnes per year, with plans to double production in a second phase. Looking further ahead, production is projected to reach 10m tonnes annually in its third phase.

BP estimates that these rich reserves have the capacity to fuel production for an impressive 30 to 50 years, powering growth and helping meet global demand well into the future. Geologists predict there will be much more gas to follow the GTA field.

Source: AFRICANBUSINESS