Efforts are underway to repair a gas leak at the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) offshore field, jointly operated by Senegal and Mauritania, British energy company BP confirmed on Wednesday. The leak, discovered on February 19, poses no threat to workers, and the environmental impact is expected to be minimal, according to BP.
The GTA field, which began production on December 31, 2024, was developed in partnership with BP, Kosmos Energy, Mauritanian hydrocarbons company SMH, and Senegal’s state-owned Petrosen. The Mauritanian environment ministry announced last week that “low-rate subsea gas bubbles” had been detected at one of the wells.
BP has mobilized specialized equipment and personnel to contain the leak and ensure minimal environmental consequences. Meanwhile, production continues at the site’s three other wells.
The project, expected to produce 2.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually, has been highly anticipated in both countries as a potential economic game-changer. However, concerns have been raised about transparency, with the Dakar-based think tank LEGS-Africa calling for more public information on the cause and impact of the leak.