Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko announces state recovery of Yakaar-Teranga gas block
via SeneNews1 min read
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko announced on April 23, 2026, a significant development in Senegal's gas resource management. An agreement has been reached for the joint withdrawal of Kosmos Energy and PETROSEN from the Cayar gas block license, known as Yakaar-Teranga. According to the head of government, this agreement was concluded without any financial compensation for the Senegalese state and will soon be formalized by a ministerial decree. Following this process, a new license will be exclusively granted to PETROSEN, which will then solely operate this promising gas field. Ousmane Sonko described this as a "major victory," aligning with a political commitment to regain control over the country's natural resources. He noted that the Yakaar-Teranga block was previously allocated under former President Macky Sall's presidency under what he termed opaque conditions. This decision, he stated, is the culmination of a decade-long political struggle to renegotiate unfavorable contracts. The Prime Minister also commended the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum, Birame Souleye Diop, and the Director General of PETROSEN, Alioune Gueye, along with their teams, for their roles in securing this agreement. This announcement comes as Senegalese authorities aim to strengthen their sovereignty over extractive resources, particularly in the oil and gas sectors, which are considered strategic for the nation's economic development.
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