SENEGAL — The Government of Senegal is making energy a priority in 2020, the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has revealed.

The ministry further noted that the government is focused on making energy a foundation for growth and will be launching key projects in 2020 in order to achieve the vision of H.E. President Macky Sall.

To further demonstrate its commitment, Senegal is offering oil and gas blocks to global explorers in its 2020 licensing round which will also include a global road show to present the oil and gas licenses.

So far, eight oil and gas discoveries have been made since 2014 and in 2022 the first oil will be produced from the Sangomar oilfield and the first gas from BP’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG project.

The country is also planning to open its first utility-scale wind farm and make progress on key oil and gas projects in 2020.

In order to deliver on the vision of the president, the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy is partnering with Africa Oil and Power, a leading events company with focus on the energy sector, in organizing the Senegal Oil and Power 2020 conference.

The theme of the conference is “A New Wave of Investment”, which according to Africa Oil and Power, reflects the investment-led vision of H.E. President Macky Sall and Senegal’s agenda to develop the economy on a foundation of a diversified energy sector.

“Senegal Oil & Power and the Africa Energy Series report are the national platform to promote Senegal’s voice in the international energy sector.

These initiatives show how important energy is in the nation’s economic emergence,” said James Chester, Acting CEO of organizer Africa Oil & Power.

Chester also noted that Senegal is no longer an exploration hotspot but the center of a proven and prolific oil and gas province.

He further added that Africa had a few places that offered such a stable and secure investment environment, with long term government vision and support for a wide range of energy activities.

The conference is accompanied by the second edition of an investor guide titled Africa Energy Series: Senegal 2020 to be released later in the year, Africa Oil and Power revealed.

According to the event organizers, the 2020 program will cover a full spectrum of energy activities, from oil and gas exploration to local goods and service provision, infrastructure, finance and power production and distribution.