A gas leak occurred at the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) site, a gas facility located offshore, which was detected on February 19, 2025, according to an announcement from BP. The British operator confirmed that a problem had been identified at well A02, situated off the coasts of Senegal and Mauritania. Although the incident occurred just two months after the site’s commencement of operations, BP assures that the leak is of low flow and poses no danger to the workers or the immediate environment.
The GTA project, a joint venture between BP, Kosmos Energy, the Senegalese National Oil Company (Petrosen), and the Mauritanian Hydrocarbons Company (SMH), began commercial operations in late December 2024. According to BP, the environmental impact should be negligible due to the nature of the gas and condensates involved. The operator clarified that no significant impact is expected, and specialised equipment has been deployed to resolve the issue. While full repairs are underway, the three other wells at the site continue production.
Investigation into the incident and regional collaboration
Mauritanian authorities, who were the first to report the incident, have stated that they are working closely with Senegalese authorities to analyse the situation and minimise any environmental risks. The Mauritanian Ministry of Environment has confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the leak and to mitigate its potential effects on the marine ecosystem.
The incident comes as the GTA project is expected to generate around 2.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year, a significant volume that could transform the economies of both Senegal and Mauritania, two developing countries on the Atlantic coast. However, local authorities and civil society organisations are calling for greater transparency regarding the incident and more detailed information about its repercussions.
Reactions from local stakeholders and economic expectations
As repairs are ongoing, local voices have raised concerns about the importance of clear and prompt communication regarding the consequences of the incident. LEGS-Africa, a think tank based in Dakar, has stressed the need to inform the public about the causes and potential impacts of the leak, especially in terms of the safety of local populations and the condition of the marine ecosystems.
The concerns are compounded by the fact that environmental impact studies, while having anticipated technical incidents, did not foresee such an early leak. For some observers, the incident raises questions about risk management in gas projects in West Africa, a region where economic expectations are particularly high.
