Senegal and Nigeria have moved to strengthen bilateral energy cooperation following a high-level working visit to Abuja by Senegal’s Minister of Energy Birame Soulèye Diop and representatives from Petrosen. During the visit, the delegation held discussions with Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). Both sides agreed to expand cooperation across refining, gas monetization, policy development and collaboration between national oil companies. The engagement underscores a broader push among African producers to align efforts in strengthening industrial capacity and advancing intra-African energy trade.
The African Energy Chamber (AEC), representing industry stakeholders, welcomed the development, emphasizing the importance of stronger intergovernmental and institutional linkages. Increased coordination between Petrosen and NNPC is expected to facilitate knowledge transfer, enhance institutional frameworks and accelerate project execution across upstream, refining and gas commercialization segments. Senegal Nigeria energy ties also aligns with ongoing efforts to operationalize the Africa Energy Bank, with Senegal already contributing capital and positioning itself within the financing structure for future energy projects.
“This is exactly the kind of collaboration Africa needs. When countries like Senegal and Nigeria work together – sharing knowledge, building infrastructure, strengthening NOCs and improving policies – we create an environment where investment can thrive and where Africa can take control of its energy future. Strong partnerships between African nations will be the foundation of energy security, industrialization and economic growth across the continent,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.
Momentum around Senegal Nigeria energy ties comes as both countries scale their oil and gas ambitions. Senegal continues to build on recent production milestones, including operations at the Sangomar oilfield and the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG project. Output at Sangomar has stabilized at approximately 100,000 bpd, while GTA has recorded 24 LNG cargo exports between February 2025 and February 2026, alongside 1.6 million barrels of condensate marketed internationally. The country is also advancing the Yakaar-Teranga offshore project and pursuing a $100 million onshore exploration campaign aimed at unlocking new reserves through seismic acquisition and exploratory drilling.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, is simultaneously targeting production levels of around 2 million bpd while expanding its refining and gas sectors. A 2025 licensing round offering 50 frontier and one deepwater block is expected to attract $10 billion in investment, complemented by renewed engagement with international oil companies including Chevron, ExxonMobil and Shell. The NNPC is targeting $30 billion in upstream investments by 2030.
On the downstream side, plans are underway to expand the Dangote Refinery’s capacity to 1.4 million bpd, while recent gas flare commercialization initiatives are set to unlock $2 billion in investments. The growing alignment between Senegal and Nigeria reflects a wider continental shift toward cooperative frameworks aimed at strengthening energy security, infrastructure development and long-term market integration.