Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG Project Begins Commercial Operations in 2025

The landmark Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG development, straddling the maritime border between Senegal and Mauritania, has officially entered its commercial operations phase in June 2025. This marks a major milestone in West Africa’s energy landscape and strengthens the region’s position as an emerging global hub for liquefied natural gas (LNG) production.

At the heart of the development is the Gimi Floating LNG (FLNG) vessel, owned and operated by maritime infrastructure firm Golar LNG. The vessel achieved its Commercial Operating Date (COD) in June, triggering the start of a 20-year Lease and Operating Agreement. The Gimi FLNG is now fully operational at the offshore site, enabling sustained production and export of LNG from one of Africa’s most strategic and ambitious energy projects.

A Partnership of Global and Regional Players

The GTA project is a multi-national, multi-partner initiative led by global energy giants bp (as operator) and Kosmos Energy, in collaboration with national oil companies Petrosen (Senegal) and Société Mauritanienne Des Hydrocarbures (SMH). This joint effort represents one of the lowest-cost greenfield LNG projects developed anywhere in the world.

The project has reached several milestones over the past year:

• First LNG production began in February 2025

• The maiden cargo was lifted in April 2025

• The fourth LNG cargo is currently being loaded

• The fifth shipment is expected to depart in early Q3 2025

With these developments, the partners are ramping up exports to meet long-term contracted volumes of 2.4 million tons per annum (mtpa), reaching 90% of the facility’s nameplate capacity of 2.7 mtpa.

Transformational Potential for the MSGBC Region

As the first major offshore LNG project in the broader MSGBC (Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry) Basin, GTA is expected to unlock over 15 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of recoverable natural gas. The project’s Final Investment Decision (FID) was taken in 2018, and in 2021, both the Senegalese and Mauritanian governments officially recognized it as a “strategic national priority”.

Looking ahead, the second phase of GTA is being actively evaluated. The goal is to double production capacity to over 5 mtpa, with a focus on:

• Continued cross-border governmental cooperation

• Harmonization of regulatory frameworks

• Securing additional investment and infrastructure expansion

The second phase, once sanctioned, will significantly expand the region’s role in the global LNG market and contribute to regional energy security.

Kosmos Energy: Driving Deepwater Value Across Africa

Beyond its role in GTA, Kosmos Energy continues to expand its footprint across Africa, particularly in deepwater exploration and production. In Equatorial Guinea, the company has completed an infill drilling program on the Ceiba and Okume fields and is leveraging advanced seismic data reprocessing to identify further opportunities for development.

In Ghana, Kosmos has committed over $2 billion toward upstream operations, focused on:

• Exploration expansion

• Infrastructure enhancement

• Technology integration for improved efficiency

These efforts include work on Ghana’s prominent Jubilee and TEN (Tweneboa, Enyenra, Ntomme) fields.

Through these initiatives, Kosmos is not only unlocking resource value but also catalyzing job creation, infrastructure development, and economic growth in the countries where it operates.

Spotlight at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025

Kosmos Energy’s pivotal role in GTA and other African energy developments will be highlighted at African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025, taking place from September 29 to October 3, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa. As a Diamond Sponsor, Kosmos will join government representatives, investors, and service providers to discuss partnerships, technology, and policy in the pursuit of a unified African energy agenda.

AEW has become the premier venue for deal signing, strategic dialogue, and investment matchmaking in Africa’s energy sector. This year’s edition will focus heavily on ending energy poverty, while promoting energy transition pathways that are both inclusive and anchored in Africa’s hydrocarbon resources.

Toward a New Energy Future for West Africa

The successful commissioning of the GTA project is a historic leap forward for West African energy integration and development. With commercial LNG production now underway and expansion on the horizon, GTA is set to become a cornerstone of Africa’s natural gas future, offering cleaner energy, economic opportunity, and geopolitical relevance in a world seeking diversified energy supplies.

As international stakeholders shift their focus toward scalable, lower-emission energy sources, projects like GTA are positioning Senegal and Mauritania as key players in the global LNG trade, with the added benefit of regional collaboration and sustainable growth.