Dakar: Senegal’s state-owned midstream company, Reseau Gazier du S©negal, is set to begin construction of a domestic gas pipeline network before the end of 2025, according to Birame Soul¨ye Diop, Minister of Energy, Petroleum, and Mines of Senegal. Minister Diop made the announcement during the ministerial panel at MSGBC Oil, Gas, and Power 2025, which brought together energy ministers and senior officials from Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, and The Gambia to discuss regional cooperation and sustainable energy development.
According to African Press Organization, Minister Diop emphasized Senegal’s strategy to leverage domestic gas as a transitional energy source to provide 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 stated. He outlined the country’s integrated strategy for gas, focusing on multiple uses beyond export, including gas-to-power, gas-to-industry, and applications in transport and agriculture.
Lamin Camara, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in The Gambia, echoed Minister Diop’s comments on regional integration and collaboration. “Regional cooperation 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,” Camara said. On developing The Gambia’s hydrocarbon potential, he noted that they have completed three negotiations and hope to sign agreements with major and mid-size companies before year-end.
Mohamed Ould Khaled, Minister of Petroleum and Energy of Mauritania, emphasized cross-border collaboration, citing the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim gas project shared with Senegal as a successful example. “We aim to develop our countries and industries together, working closely with neighboring states to maximize opportunities,” noted Minister Khaled.
Bachir Camara, Deputy Minister of Guinea-Conakry, highlighted collaboration with other West African national oil companies. “We are upgrading governance and cooperating with Senegal’s Petrosen and Ivory Coast’s Petroci to strengthen regional collaboration and improve exploration outcomes,” Minister Camara stressed.
Meanwhile, Celed³nio Pl¡cido Vieira, Minister of Natural Resources of Guinea-Bissau, also spoke on leveraging regional potential. “We started reforming our petroleum code in 2014 to attract investment, and now we want to engage with the NOCs of neighboring countries. Cooperation is key to making the MSGBC basin more attractive,” Vieira said. Minister Diop concluded that Senegal shares oil resources with Guinea-Bissau at the border, and it is crucial to work together considering the potential of their blocks.
