Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – Senegal will begin construction of its first domestic gas pipeline network before the end of 2025, Energy, Petroleum & Mines Minister Birame Soulèye Diop announced Tuesday at the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference.
The minister, speaking during a high-level panel that brought together energy leaders from Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and The Gambia, said state-owned midstream operator Réseau Gazier du Sénégal (RGS) is set to lead the landmark project aimed at expanding access to energy and supporting the country’s transition plan.
“We are leveraging domestic gas as a transitional energy source, providing access to energy and clean cooking. RGS is leading this initiative, and we hope to lay the first stone of the pipeline network before the end of 2025,” Minister Diop said.
He explained that Senegal’s integrated gas strategy goes beyond exports, focusing instead on value creation at home. “The integrated strategy sees the sector as a whole, from gas-to-power to gas-to-industry, but also applications in transport and agriculture,” he added.
The announcement was welcomed by regional counterparts who stressed the importance of collaboration in unlocking the MSGBC basin’s full potential.
Lamin Camara, Permanent Secretary at The Gambia’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, echoed the call for deeper cooperation. “Regional coordination is at the heart of our policy. We are in discussions with Mauritania and Senegal to be part of the gas pipeline network and benefit from its resources,” he said. On The Gambia’s upstream ambitions, Camara added, “We have completed three negotiations and hope to sign agreements with major and mid-size companies before year-end.”
Mauritania’s Petroleum and Energy Minister Mohamed Ould Khaled highlighted the success of the cross-border Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project as a model for future cooperation. “The GTA project shared with Senegal is a successful example of regional cooperation, providing gas to multiple partners. We aim to develop our countries and industries together, working closely with neighboring states to maximize opportunities,” he noted.
Guinea-Conakry’s Deputy Minister Bachir Camara pointed to ongoing partnerships with West African national oil companies as essential to improving exploration outcomes. “We are upgrading governance and cooperating with Senegal’s Petrosen and Ivory Coast’s Petroci to strengthen regional collaboration,” he said.
Guinea-Bissau’s Minister of Natural Resources, Celedónio Plácido Vieira, said his country has been reforming its petroleum framework to attract investment and is now seeking deeper engagement with regional NOCs. “Cooperation is key to making the MSGBC basin more attractive,” he emphasized.
Closing the session, Minister Diop underscored the importance of shared development across borders. “Senegal shares oil resources with Guinea-Bissau at the border, and it is crucial to work together considering the potential of their blocks,” he said.
