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West Africa Energy’s nearly-complete thermal plant at Cap des Biches will bring much-needed baseload capacity to Senelec’s network, supporting further renewable power projects. Meanwhile, the ruling Pastef party has started an audit of energy contracts awarded by the previous regime – with gas-to-power projects included in its scope, writes Waly Dione Faye in Dakar.

Malaysian national oil company Petronas is leading a pack of several international contenders eyeing up a potential investment in Senegal's 25tcf offshore Yakaar-Teranga gas development.

Local downstream player Elton Oil is advancing its $120m regasification terminal project and has signed an offtake deal with Senelec to provide the utility with gas feedstock. The move could be an important step in Dakar’s move away from liquid fuels towards cheaper and less polluting gas, writes Waly Dione Faye in Dakar.

Another round of energy sector appointments has been made by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s administration, part of what some Senegalese observers have called the ‘de-Mackyisation’ of the energy sector. The new recruits largely comprise technocrats, external experts, and academics.

Mauritius-based Afreenergy has signed an agreement to acquire three commercial and industrial (C&I) solar PV plants in Senegal from French developer GreenYellow, which is divesting from Africa to concentrate on Europe.

A review of offshore oil and gas contracts had been anticipated, following pledges made on the campaign trail ahead of the February election. Agreements signed by the previous administration of President Macky Sall are expected to come in for particular scrutiny, write Waly Dione Faye and Marc Howard.

Wärtsilä has added 120MW of gas-to-power capacity in Nigeria so far this year, in a sign that demand for commercial and industrial (C&I) plants remains robust. Its strong pipeline of orders in West and North Africa notably includes large offtakers seeking to balance their grids and enable increased renewable energy capacity, the Finnish engine manufacturer told African Energy.

The 225MW Saint Louis combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) development on Senegal’s north-west coast is nearing financial close, according to a progress update given to African Energy by Turkish developer Aksa Energy.

Anglo-French independent Perenco has bought into the leading floating LNG developer, building on their existing Cameroon partnership.

Dakar’s long wait for one of its major upstream projects to reach commercial operations is over, with crude flowing at the Woodside Energy-operated Sangomar field and exports to follow.

Future supply of feedstock for the 300MW West African Energy (WAE) Cap des Biches plant and the other new gas-to-power (GTP) capacity planned by state utility Société Nationale d’Electricité du Sénégal (Senelec) remains contingent on infrastructure development. The most promising source of gas is the offshore 25tcf Yakaar-Teranga (Y-T) project, now operated by US independent Kosmos Energy following BP’s exit last year.

The long-awaited arrival of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim scheme’s FPSO vessel  is welcome news for the LNG megaproject, having twice been delayed by external events.

Informed sources have told African Energy that West African Energy’s gas-to-power plant is expected to be commissioned around the turn of the year, but questions remain over when the natural gas feedstock will be available and whether the new Pastef administration may reassess details of the directly-awarded contract, write Waly Dione Faye and Marc Howard.

Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s administration has made its inaugural round of senior energy sector appointments, following the 24 March election. The new appointments have a technocrat tinge that may reassure investors – and, indeed, underline the technocratic backgrounds of Faye and his influential Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, both of whom were tax inspectors prior to entering politics.

Ahead of his expected late June re-election, President Mohammed Ahmed El Ghazouani is presiding over a potentially fast-changing Mauritania that can expect new revenues from its joint GTA gas field with Senegal and potentially more long-term investment plays that exploit its minerals reserves, P2X potential and route to the sea, write Marc Howard, Waly Dione Faye and Jon Marks.