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Natural Gas
Mauritania : A Rising Star in the Global Gas Industry
Natural Gas Potential in Mauritania
Mauritania is on the cusp of becoming a significant player in the global gas industry and a leading producer in Africa. With gas reserves estimated at 1400 billion cubic meters, the country is poised to enter into production phases that will see output increase to 2.5 million tonnes per year by 2025, double in the second phase and reach 10 million tonnes per year in the third phase. The 33,000 sq km gas field holds a production potential of 30 to 50 years, according to BP, and the government has stated that priority will be given to fully exploiting the country's gas potential from today until 2030. Additionally, Mauritania is expected to become the third largest gas exporter on the African continent, following Nigeria and Algeria.
Mauritania's partners in offshore natural gas extraction
Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA)
Greater Tortue Ahmeyim is an offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) project based on upstream gas production in 2km-deep waters on the maritime border of Mauritania and Senegal. It is the deepest offshore project in Africa till date. It is being jointly developed by BP, Kosmos Energy, Societe des Petroles du Senegal (Petrosen), and Societe Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures (SMHPM) with BP as the operator. The project plans to produce up to 10 million tonnes of LNG per year in phases. A recent discovery at the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim-1 well in July 2019, indicates the potential to expand the capacity of the LNG project beyond 10 million tonnes per year in the future.
Mauritania's "Hmeimim" field is considered one of the most prominent joint fields in the world, with estimated reserves of more than 450 billion cubic meters of gas. The field is expected to produce 2.5 million tons of liquefied gas annually and is being developed by BP and Kosmos Energy. The project is expected to bring the companies $150 million in annual revenues, and $19 billion for Mauritania over the next 30 years. The "Banda" and "Birallah" fields, located 60km from Nouakchott, also boast potential of 1.2 trillion cubic feet and 8 trillion cubic feet of gas respectively.
