Concerns over gas leak at BP’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim

Mauritanian sources have disclosed a gas leak at well A02 of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project, located offshore, along the maritime border between Senegal and Mauritania.

According to a statement by pan-African think tank LEGS-Africa, seen by Gas Outlook, the gas leak was reported last month, on February 19th, just two months after production began.

BP, a multinational oil and gas company, admitted on March 5th that it was repairing a gas leak at the GTA gas field.

Operated by BP, Kosmos Energy, PETROSEN, and SMH, the leak was discovered at well A02, BP said, confirming the presence of submarine gas bubbles at low flow levels. 

The company said it has mobilised specialised equipment and staff to address the issue and has stated that the leak poses no risk to employees and has a negligible environmental impact.

BP started gas production in January from wells at the GTA Phase 1 liquefied natural gas (LNG) project to its floating production storage and offloading vessel, for the next stage of commissioning.

GTA is one of the deepest offshore developments in Africa. It has gas resources in water depths of up to 2,850 metres. Phase 1 is expected to produce around 2.3 million tonnes of LNG per year once commissioned.

Environmental organisations and communities along the Senegalese and Mauritanian coasts are raising concerns about a lack of transparency and potential long-term consequences surrounding the gas leak at the shared offshore LNG project.

Mamoussé Ndiaye, a member of CLPA Saint-Louis, a local artisanal fishing council in Senegal, said that since the incident started on February 19th, the community has seen smoke and fire increasing and spreading.

“We took photos and videos, which we shared with experts for analysis. We don’t have all the facts, but we know something is happening. Lately, there have been more illnesses and deaths in this area than usual, raising concerns among the population. Could this leak be the cause of these health issues? We cannot say for certain, but a deeper investigation is necessary. We must remain vigilant, monitor what is happening in our country, and not allow operators to act without oversight.”

Elimane Kane, President of LEGS-Africa, said the think tank has conducted investigations and engaged with national stakeholders to formally call on the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, Petrosen, and BP to urgently inform the Senegalese public about the causes of the gas leak, its extent and environmental impact on marine ecosystems, the risks to community safety and public health, and its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and the climate in general.

“These assurances have not been independently verified, and concerns persist about the lack of transparency and potential long-term consequences. Therefore, we would like to remind the Government of Senegal of its legal obligations and commitments to responsible and sustainable governance of natural resources. We call for immediate transparency and public communication regarding this incident,” he told Gas Outlook.

“Furthermore, we urge the authorities to take all necessary measures to control and mitigate the environment,” he added.

Marine ecosystems, livelihoods

Dean Bhebhe, Campaigns Lead at Don’t Gas Africa, in a statement made available to Gas Outlook, said BP’s claim that its gas leak off the coasts of Senegal and Mauritania is ‘negligible’ would almost be laughable, if it weren’t so dangerous.

He said there is nothing minor about toxic gas polluting marine ecosystems, threatening fisheries, and endangering the livelihoods of local communities.

“The fossil fuel industry has a long history of downplaying disasters while communities suffer the real consequences. Africa is not a dumping ground for corporate negligence, nor should its people be forced to pay the price for BP’s reckless pursuit of profit.

“If BP is so confident that this spill is insignificant, perhaps its executives should try fishing in the contaminated waters or breathing the air near the leak. Until then, we demand full transparency, accountability, and an end to the unchecked expansion of fossil fuels. The world is watching, and Africa will not be silenced in the face of environmental and economic injustice.”

Experts fault the claims of minimal leak impact, calling for an independent environmental impact assessment to be conducted.

Aly Marie Sagne, Exécutive Director of Lumiere Synergie Developpement, told Gas Outlook that BP claimed that the risk for the environment is minimal. He questioned whether only an independent assessment could ascertain that.

“From my experience multinational enterprises, and especially mining companies, are keen to provide such information even it could be false. Fishers in the Langue de Barbarie told us they have seen a U.S. Cargo debarking materials on the Mauritanian side to address the issue.

“I have called on BP to provide accurate information on the exact point where the leaks happened, the scope and the measures they envision to address definitively the case. Under the international norms of corporate social responsibility, BP should associate all its stakeholders who would be potentially impacted, including governments and fishing communities,” he added.

Public confidence in fossil fuel investments

The coexistence of oil and gas operations with fishing represents significant risks that cannot be ignored, say climate experts.

Eliminating the potential risks associated with oil and gas by shifting investments toward renewable energy sources represents a more sustainable and beneficial long-term strategy for Senegal, they say.

Joab Okanda, a climate policy, energy, and development expert, stressed that once again, Big Oil is treating African lives as if they don’t matter. He said the gas leak at an offshore LNG plant underscores the inherent risks of relying on fossil gas, risks that threaten to destroy a vital marine ecosystem that supports thousands of Senegalese and Mauritanian people.

“This gas leak, and BP’s behaviour afterwards, shatters any trust left between the people and BP. If this happened in the U.S. or Europe, would BP hide the truth from the public? BP must come clean about the damage it’s causing and pay for immediate clean-up,” he told Gas Outlook.

“As communities grapple with the aftermath of the gas leak, we must recognise that the pursuit of short-term energy gains comes at an unsustainable price. This incident should galvanise our commitment to transitioning towards cleaner, safer energy alternatives that prioritise people and the planet,” he added.