How Kosmos Energy’s LNG Start at GTA Will Lower Gas Prices for Local Industries

Kosmos Energy has announced the start of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production at the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project, which is operated by BP.

This is a major milestone for the energy sector in West Africa. The offshore project, located between Mauritania and Senegal, is expected to play an important role in the global LNG market.

On December 31, 2024, the first phase of the GTA project started producing gas, with gas flowing from the wells to the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.

This marked the beginning of the commissioning process. The FPSO, located about 40 km offshore, processes the gas by removing water, impurities, and condensates before sending it to a floating LNG (FLNG) vessel about 10 km away for liquefaction.

Now that gas has been successfully transferred to the FLNG vessel, the liquefaction process has officially started. This allows Kosmos Energy to record gas entitlement production in its financial statements.

BP, which operates the project, has informed its offtaker, BP Gas Marketing Ltd., to arrange for an LNG carrier to transport the first cargo later this quarter. Kosmos Energy expects to generate revenue and cash flow once the first LNG cargo is lifted.

Once fully operational, the GTA project is expected to produce about 2.3 million metric tons per year (mtpa) of LNG. This positions Mauritania and Senegal as key LNG producers in the region.

Kosmos Energy estimates that the GTA project contains more than 15 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas resources.

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Kosmos Energy Chairman and CEO Andrew G. Inglis celebrated the achievement, saying, “First LNG is another major milestone for Kosmos, the GTA partnership, and the governments of Mauritania and Senegal.” He added that they are looking forward to ramping up production and delivering the first LNG cargo in the first quarter of 2025.

BP operates the GTA project with a 56% working interest, while Kosmos Energy holds a 27% stake. The national oil companies of Senegal and Mauritania, Petrosen and Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures (SMH), own 10% and 7%, respectively. The Gimi FLNG vessel, which handles the liquefaction process, is owned and operated by Golar LNG.

The final investment decision (FID) for the GTA project was made in December 2018. This set the stage for development, leading to the current phase of LNG production.

In February 2023, BP, Kosmos Energy, Petrosen, and SMH agreed to proceed with the project’s second phase, which is expected to add another 2.5 to 3 mtpa of LNG capacity.

This milestone is significant for Senegal and Mauritania. Before this project, only three sub-Saharan African countries—Nigeria (17 mtpa), Angola (4 mtpa), and Cameroon (2 mtpa)—were producing LNG.

The launch of LNG production at the GTA project opens new opportunities for these West African nations to benefit from their natural gas resources and contribute to the global energy market.

This achievement not only brings economic advantages but also strengthens West Africa’s position in the global LNG sector.

As the project moves forward, it will provide energy security, job creation, and investment opportunities for the region while meeting growing global demand for LNG.