News Release

Mauritania and Senegal: Opportunities and challenges in Africa’s forgotten hot spot

Once a playground for the supermajors, inactive basin still holds rich, undeveloped discoveries and unlicensed acreage

byEnverus

CALGARY, Alberta (Dec. 30, 2025) Enverus Intelligence® Research (EIR), a subsidiary of Enverus, the most trusted energy SaaS company that leverages generative AI across its solutions, has released a new report examining the evolving outlook for oil and gas in Mauritania and Senegal, within the MSGBC (Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Conakry) Basin. Once a magnet for supermajors, the basin now faces a mixed picture: proven resource potential alongside significant investment headwinds.

Senegal and Mauritania have transitioned from frontier exploration zones to established producers. Sangomar, offshore Senegal, has been delivering around 100,000 barrels of oil per day, while Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) has reached approximately 250 million cubic feet of gas per day. These projects, online for over a year, underscore the basin’s technical capability and the value of years of development.

Despite more than 600 million barrels of oil and nearly 90 trillion cubic feet of gas discovered, large swaths of acreage remain underexplored. Opportunities exist for agile independents and national oil companies to leverage existing infrastructure and proven petroleum systems. Planned expansions, such as Sangomar Phase 2 and GTA Phase 1+, aim to further enhance regional output by the end of the decade.

However, optimism must be weighed against reality. Since 2019, international oil companies have relinquished 23 offshore licenses and over 170,000 sq km of acreage, citing regulatory changes, fiscal tightening and market volatility. Political uncertainty, tax disputes, infrastructure bottlenecks and evolving fiscal terms continue to challenge investor confidence and highlight the need for stability and predictable frameworks.

Both governments are offering open acreage through direct negotiations, aiming to attract new entrants. Yet, reversing the exploration exodus will require competitive terms and clear alignment on development priorities. While the basin’s resource base is undeniable, sustaining momentum from Sangomar and GTA will be critical to restoring investor interest.

“The start-up of Sangomar and GTA demonstrates what’s possible in the MSGBC Basin,” said Jimmy Boulter, regional manager at EIR. “But future success depends on addressing above-ground concerns and fostering a competitive upstream environment. With the supermajors stepping out of Mauritania and Senegal but into neighboring Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia, the MSGBC Basin is entering a new era where a wider mix of companies will need to redefine exploration and development.”

Key takeaways:

  • Senegal and Mauritania have transitioned from frontier exploration zones to established producers, following major project milestones in 2024 and 2025.
  • International oil companies have exited the region, relinquishing 23 offshore licenses and over 170,000 sq km since 2019, driven by regulatory changes and market volatility.
  • Output from Sangomar and GTA is ramping up, providing reliable cash flow and supporting future expansion, with Sangomar Phase 2 and GTA Phase 1+ on the horizon.
  • Both countries are offering open acreage via direct negotiations, with a new wave of explorers needed, including national oil companies and independents.
  • Infrastructure bottlenecks and evolving fiscal terms remain key obstacles to revitalizing exploration and development.
Ramp in Oil and Gas Production Following Project Startups

EIR’s analysis pulls from a variety of products including Enverus PRISM®, Enverus FOUNDATIONS®, Global Research, and Enverus AI.  

You must be an Enverus Intelligence® subscriber to access this report.

EIR research reports cannot be distributed to members of the media without a scheduled interview. If you have questions or are interested in obtaining a copy of this report, please use our Request Media Interview button to schedule an interview with one of our expert analysts.

About Enverus Intelligence® Research
Enverus Intelligence ® | Research, Inc. (EIR) is a subsidiary of Enverus that publishes energy-sector research focused on the oil, natural gas, power and renewable industries. EIR publishes reports including asset and company valuations, resource assessments, technical evaluations and macro-economic forecasts; and helps make intelligent connections for energy industry participants, service companies and capital providers worldwide. Enverus is the most trusted, energy-dedicated SaaS company, with a platform built to create value from generative AI, offering real-time access to analytics, insights and benchmark cost and revenue data sourced from our partnerships to 95% of U.S. energy producers, and more than 40,000 suppliers. Learn more at Enverus.com.

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