Senegal is preparing to place 109 oil and gas blocks on the market as the country seeks to attract both domestic and international investors into its growing petroleum industry, Energy and Petroleum Minister El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf has said.
According to Oilprice.com, citing Reuters, Diouf said only four of the country’s 113 oil and gas blocks have so far been awarded under contractual arrangements.
“The remaining 109 will be put on the market,” the minister said, according to Reuters.
He said the government also wants the expansion of the petroleum sector to support the emergence of strong Senegalese companies capable of becoming major players in the industry.
“The president’s plan is to create local leaders in the energy, oil and gas sectors,” Diouf added.
Senegal’s petroleum industry has expanded significantly following a series of offshore oil and gas discoveries over the past decade.
The country commenced production from its first oil project in 2024 and followed this with the start of liquefied natural gas exports in 2025 from the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas development, operated jointly with Mauritania.
The launch of oil production in 2024 contributed to a sharp increase in economic activity, helping Senegal record its strongest economic growth at the time.
Australia based Woodside Energy achieved first oil from the Sangomar oil project in June 2024.
Sangomar Phase 1 is a deepwater development featuring a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel with a nameplate production capacity of 100,000 barrels per day (bpd). The project also includes subsea infrastructure designed to support future development phases, according to Woodside.
At the time of the first oil milestone, Thierno Ly, general manager of Senegal’s national oil company Petrosen, described the development as a significant moment for the country.
“First oil from the Sangomar field marks a new era not only for our country’s industry and economy, but most importantly for our people,” Ly said.
Senegal’s gas sector also reached a major milestone in 2025 when BP, operator of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project offshore Mauritania and Senegal, loaded its first LNG cargo for export.
Phase 1 of the GTA project is expected to produce approximately 2.3 million metric tons of LNG annually.
BP has said the project is expected to continue producing LNG for more than 20 years, strengthening Senegal and Mauritania’s position in the regional and international gas market.