The President of the Republic announced « the upcoming session of the Strategic Orientation Committee for Oil and Gas (Cos-Petrogaz), whose composition will be revised ». The aim of this session, notes the communiqué of the Council of Ministers, « will be to update the national strategy for the development and exploitation of oil and gas resources, while ensuring the proper distribution and management of revenues from the exploitation of hydrocarbons ».

Exploitation of the Sangomar oil fields: Barrel of hope

Earlier, the Head of State welcomed the extraction of the first barrel of oil, making Senegal an oil-producing country since June 11, 2024. For him, « this is a historic moment and an important step forward in our country’s quest for energy sovereignty ». Bassirou Diomaye Faye congratulated the government, in particular the Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines, but also the Petrosen group, Woodside Energy and all those who have contributed to the realization of this project, which began in 2020. He called on the Prime Minister and the entire government to ensure the optimal and transparent exploitation of the country’s oil and gas resources for the benefit of the national economy and current and future generations.

Read the column – Good news from the Senegalese open seas

The Prime Minister also spoke of the new era opening up for Senegal. In this respect, he recalled that « in accordance with the provisions of the Senegalese Constitution, natural resources belong to the People and must be used to improve their living conditions ». With this in mind, he asserted, « the government will examine the prospects and challenges involved in a just transition that would promote sustainable and inclusive development, both socio-economically and environmentally ». Ousmane Sonko pointed out that « vigilance will have to be the order of the day. Artificial intelligence will be used to improve the management of these resources, particularly in terms of quantitative monitoring, securing production and preventing environmental risks ».

By Dialigué FAYE / dialigue@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH