British energy giant BP has announced the successful loading of the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) export cargo from the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) offshore project, located on the maritime border between Senegal and Mauritania.
This milestone marks the third major upstream project start-up for BP in 2025 and underscores a significant step forward in West Africa’s emergence as a key player in the global LNG market.
According to BP, this initial shipment is the first of 10 LNG cargoes expected by the end of 2027, in line with the company’s strategy to expand its upstream oil and gas portfolio.
The GTA project is operated by BP in collaboration with Kosmos Energy, Senegal’s national oil company Petrosen, and Mauritania’s Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures (SMH).
The floating LNG (FLNG) project produced its first gas earlier this year and is designed to yield approximately 2.3 million tonnes of LNG annually in its first phase.
Once fully commissioned, Phase 1 of GTA is projected to deliver around 2.4 million tonnes of LNG per year to international markets, with additional gas volumes reserved for future domestic supply in both Senegal and Mauritania.
Gas extraction began on December 31, 2024, with initial flows sent to the project’s floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.
From there, the gas is transported via subsea pipeline to the FLNG vessel Gimi, where it is liquefied and loaded onto LNG carriers for export.
BP’s gas marketing division has secured a long-term agreement to off-take the entire LNG output from Phase 1 for up to 20 years—indicating the project’s strategic value in global energy supply chains.
Beyond its energy contributions, the GTA project has delivered tangible economic benefits to local communities.
Construction has created over 3,000 jobs and engaged approximately 300 local companies across both Mauritania and Senegal.
The project has been recognized as a “national project of strategic importance” by both governments, highlighting its critical role in regional economic development and energy security.
The successful export of the first LNG cargo from GTA marks a significant achievement for BP and its partners, and signals a new era for Senegal and Mauritania as rising LNG exporters on the African continent.
Notably, the GTA development is one of the deepest offshore gas projects in Africa, with resources located in water depths of up to 2,850 meters.
However, the project has not been without challenges.
In March 2025, BP reported a gas leak during a planned commissioning test at the A02 well.
The incident was swiftly contained, and commissioning activities have since resumed.
