This structural shift is expected to be a key focus at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum in Paris next week, where a dedicated “Invest in the MSGBC Basin” spotlight session will bring together policymakers and investors to assess the next phase of basin development. Confirmed participants include Senegal’s Ministry of Energy, Petroleum & Mines, Guinea-Bissau’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Guinea-Conakry’s Ministry of Energy, Hydropower and Hydrocarbons, The Gambia Petroleum Commission and SONAP.

Monetizing the MSGBC Basin’s Resources

At the center of the region’s evolving energy profile is the commercialization of offshore gas and oil resources, led by large-scale developments that are already reshaping export revenues and investment flows.

The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project, developed by bp and Kosmos Energy, holds around 15 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas and is designed to produce approximately 2.5 million tons of LNG per year in its first phase. Alongside this, Senegal’s Sangomar field operated by Woodside Energy has already delivered more than 36 million barrels of oil in 2025, reinforcing the country’s emergence as a new hydrocarbon exporter.

These projects are beginning to materially shift external balances and export composition. Senegal, in particular, has increased its contribution to regional trade, accounting for nearly 20% of UEMOA exports in 2025, reflecting the early macroeconomic impact of hydrocarbon production.

Beyond these core assets, additional opportunities remain at earlier stages of evaluation. The Gambia’s offshore blocks A2 and A5 continue to be reassessed under regional licensing frameworks, while in Guinea-Bissau, recent entry by Chevron into offshore acreage signals renewed interest in the basin’s margin plays. Although these resources remain less defined than Senegal and Mauritania’s developments, they highlight the broader geological continuity of the MSGBC system.

From Export Projects to Integrated Energy Infrastructure

In Senegal, the state refinery Société Africaine de Raffinage is undergoing a major expansion, with capacity expected to increase from roughly 1.2–1.4 million tons per year to around 5.5 million tons. This upgrade is aimed at improving domestic fuel availability and strengthening Senegal’s role as a potential regional refined products hub.

In parallel, Guinea-Conakry is advancing LNG-to-power initiatives, including the West Africa LNG program, designed to supply gas-fired generation for industrial users in the bauxite sector. This reflects a broader trend in which energy infrastructure is increasingly being shaped around industrial demand centres rather than export terminals alone.

The Gambia, meanwhile, is positioning itself within ECOWAS power-pooling frameworks, reinforcing the gradual emergence of cross-border electricity trade and shared grid infrastructure across West Africa.

A Shift Toward System-Based Energy Development

These developments point to a structural shift in how the MSGBC basin is being developed: rather than isolated upstream projects, the region is increasingly evolving into a system-based energy platform where LNG, refining and power infrastructure are interconnected.

This reduces fragmentation in project development and creates multiple monetization pathways across the value chain. Gas production can now feed LNG exports, domestic power generation, industrial users and regional electricity markets simultaneously – opening new investment opportunities in pipelines, regasification capacity, storage and transmission infrastructure.

As this model matures, the MSGBC region is transitioning from early-stage resource development toward integrated energy system building. For investors, the opportunity is no longer limited to upstream discovery, but extends into the infrastructure required to connect resources to markets across West Africa.

IAE 2026 is an exclusive forum designed to connect African energy markets with global investors, serving as a key platform for deal-making in the lead-up to African Energy Week. Scheduled for April 22–23, 2026, in Paris, the event will provide delegates with two days of in-depth engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, visit www.invest-africa-energy.com. To sponsor or register as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com