Gas

First LNG cargo from GTA marks milestone for bp

Exports begin from GTA Phase 1. (Image source: bp)

The deepest offshore development in Africa, GTA in Mauritania and Senegal generated the first cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for bp to be sent for export markets

First gas had flown from the GTA Phase 1 project earlier this year.

A project considered of strategic national importance, GTA Phase 1 boasts gas resources of approximately 2.4 mn tonnes of LNG per year of which considerable gas volumes are allocated for the domestic markets in both countries.

“This is a very proud day for Mauritania and Senegal. Throughout the development of this project, we have built strong relationships with the project’s host governments, local communities and our partners, and we look forward to strengthening these in years to come as we continue ongoing operations,” said Dave Campbell, bp's senior vice president for Mauritania and Senegal.

This first cargo of LNG at GTA is the third upstream major project start-up of the year for bp. These are the first of 10 expected by the end of 2027, in line with bp’s strategy of growing its upstream oil and gas business.

“This first cargo from Mauritania and Senegal marks a significant new supply for global energy markets. Starting exports from GTA Phase 1 is an important step for bp and our oil and gas business as we celebrate the creation of a new production hub within our global portfolio.

“This is the culmination of years of work from the entire project and operations teams – congratulations to all who were involved in safely reaching this landmark. I would also like to thank the governments of Mauritania and Senegal, and our partners – Kosmos Energy, PETROSEN and SMH – for their ongoing support and collaboration,” said Gordon Birrell, executive vice president, production & operations.

The first shipment of LNG was transferred to a carrier from the project’s floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessel located 10 kilometres offshore, where the natural gas had been cryogenically cooled, liquefied and stored.

Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline up for feasibility study by Penspen

The study will include environmental and social evaluation. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The 4000km-long Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) will undergo a feasibility study update from international energy consultancy, Penspen, which will gauge the regional gas market in terms of economic and financial aspects to make a cost estimation

There will also be environmental and social evaluation, including legislation and consultation reviews, risk analysis, and development of scope of work for the front-end engineering design (FEED).

Jointly sponsored by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited (Nigeria), SONATRACH (Algeria) and SONIDEP SA (Niger), the TSGP runs from Nigeria to Algeria. The project will be able to supply up to 30 bn cu/m of natural gas across West and North Africa annually, before it goes to European markets.

Arun Behl, Penspen’s sales and marketing director (Middle East & Africa) said, "The award of the feasibility study of this high-impact project underscores Penspen’s expertise in large-scale energy infrastructure development and our commitment to advancing strategic initiatives that drive economic growth and regional stability.

“We are proud to have been selected to support the next phase of this transformative project, leveraging our extensive experience in cross-country pipeline engineering and development to deliver a sustainable and efficient energy solution.”

This will be a re-evaluation of the initial feasibility study, also conducted by Penspen, in 2006, following the project's initiation in 2002. Since then the pipe route has evolved to require an updated review in terms of current situations. Penspen is being supported inj its research work by fellow Sidara brand Dar.

Besides the TSGP project, Penspen has been engaged in other mega pipelines initiatives, such as the Nigeria - Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) among others.

Mozambique LNG to proceed with loan from US EXIM Bank

The financing will support the engineering, procurement and construction of the Afungi Peninsula-based project. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

An integrated liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in northern Mozambique has finally received a long overdue funding from the newly constituted board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), which approved a direct loan of up to US$4.7bn that will cover export costs of US goods and services for the facility's development and construction

“I am pleased that in authorising this amendment the Bank finally fulfills the commitment EXIM made nearly six years ago to this Mozambique LNG project,” said the Bank's acting president and chairman Jim Cruse.

In a larger scale, the financing will support the engineering, procurement, and construction of the Afungi Peninsula-based project that comprises an onshore LNG plant, related facilities, and offshore activities.

The Rovuma LNG Phase 1 project, which also belongs offshore Afungi Peninsula, is another prospective zone with natural gas liquefaction and export potential. Houston-based energy engineering company, McDermott International, has been handling the front-end engineering design (FEED) operations of the project.

“LNG helps shape an entirely new era of energy solutions and McDermott plays a significant role in this global shift with more than 60 years of LNG experience,” said Rob Shaul, senior vice-president of McDermott's Low Carbon Solutions business. “McDermott is well established in Mozambique and can apply this knowledge and experience to continue the country's industrial, social and economic development.”

The Mozambique LNG project remains a vital investment for the US as it aims to diversify its international portfolio.

Mozambique's LNG evolution has also warranted the rise of LNG technology companies in the region, such as Air Products. The company's dual mixed refrigerant LNG Process technology (AP-DMR) and equipment has been deployed at the Coral South floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) plant, ensuring LNG production above 3.4 mn tons per year.

Gas leak setback for Senegal-Mauritania LNG

BP’s GTA project will boost global LNG supply (IMAGE SOURCE: BP)

A potential gas leak has been revealed from a well at the flagship Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project, located offshore Mauritania and Senegal

Operator BP said that it had detected subsea gas ‘bubbles’ at one of its wells, A02, during a planned commissioning test at the project site, which straddles the border between the two West African countries.

The company has put in place a plan to rectify any issues but added that the incident would not disrupt output or create any significant environmental impact.

“We have a plan to stop the bubbles,” the company told Reuters in an email statement.

“As part of that plan we have mobilised specialised equipment and personnel to support the rectification efforts.”

BP is developing the mega project alongside US-listed partner Kosmos Energy and two minority stakeholders, Petrosen and SMH. 

Mauritania's oil ministry adviser, Ahmed Vall Ould Mohameden, was also cited by the news agency as saying that similar incidents can often occur at the start of production.

"Last week a plane carrying equipment to plug the leak was sent to the site to repair it."

The GTA project produced its first gas at the start of 2025 and is set to become a major gas exporter in the years ahead, producing 2.3 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) a year during a first phase.

According to BP, it represents one of the deepest and most complex gas development projects yet in Africa, with gas resources located in water depths of up to 2,850 metres.

Gas from GTA Phase 1 is sent to the GTA floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) approximately 40 km offshore, where water, condensate and impurities are removed.

From there, the gas is transferred via pipeline to a floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessel 10 km offshore, to be cryogenically cooled, liquefied and stored before being transferred to LNG carriers for export.

Some of the gas is also being allocated to help meet growing energy demand in the two host countries.

FLNG Gimi receives feed gas from GTA project offshore Mauritania and Senegal

BP's Greater Tortue Ahmeyim offshore Mauritania and Senegal sees first gas

African LNG projects set to benefit with natural gas seen as a ‘bridge’ fuel in the energy transition

Africa's LNG sector poised for growth (IMAGE SOURCE: Adobe Stock)

Africa’s glut of new energy projects will find a ready global market, with natural gas demand set to grow in the coming years, despite industry pressures to curb emissions

Natural gas remains the “crucial bridge in the energy transition”, according to analysts at Wood Mackenzie, suggesting that demand in key markets like Asia and Europe will continue to expand even in the face of renewable alternatives.

Major gas export projects in the planning or underway in Africa include vast LNG export schemes off Mozambique, Tanzania, as well as Senegal and Mauritania.

While the world is increasingly turning to renewables, natural gas remains fundamental to meeting global energy needs and reducing emissions in the medium term, Wood Mackenzie states in a report (The Bridge: Natural Gas's Crucial Role as a Transitional Energy Source).

“Gas demand has surged by 80% over the past 25 years, now meeting almost a quarter of the world's energy needs,” said Massimo Di Odoardo, ,vice president of gas and LNG research at Wood Mackenzie.

“Its success lies in the scale of global resources, low production costs, ease of storage and dispatch, and comparative environmental advantages.”

Electrification, increasingly delivered by renewable power sources, can only move so fast, the report states, while the adoption of emerging low-carbon technologies, such as hydrogen, is too slow to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

With coal still accounting for 30% of the world’s energy needs, shifting to gas as a transition fuel is a compelling option, the report adds.

Gas produces only half the carbon dioxide (CO2) of coal and 70% of oil when burned, and generates considerably less pollution, making it the cleanest fossil fuel option.

“In China and India…gas demand is still expected to grow by almost 100 bcm through to 2050 in the power sector,” said Di Odoardo.

Africa’s gas production is currently concentrated in Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria and Libya.

But the next decade will be characterised by the emergence of a stream of new exporters, notably Mozambique and Tanzania on the eastern coast, with easy access to Asian markets, and Senegal and Mauritania on the western flank, closer to Europe.

In January 2025, BP announced first gas production from its Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) Phase 1 project off Senegal and Mauritania, part of a 2.3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) LNG export scheme.

Other new gas production is also anticipated in traditional producer states like Nigeria, Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

While Africa’s glut of projects will still face pricing pressure from competitors, notably Qatar in the Middle East, as well as the USA and Australia, diversification of supply remains important to global gas buyers.

These include the emergence of local buyers too, with South Africa currently exploring options to import LNG at a proposed site in Richards Bay.

FLNG Gimi receives feed gas from GTA project offshore Mauritania and Senegal

McDermott leads Mozambique LNG expansion

Can the East African Ruvuma Rufiji gas basin help quench growing global LNG demand?