Senegal joins the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) as an observer awaiting the production phase of the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim.
Considered to be a marker of prestige and progress, Senegal will become the 20th member of the organization and the 8th African country represented.
The other countries currently observing are Angola, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Malaysia, Mozambique, Norway, and Peru. The 11 member states include Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. Together, these nations constitute 72 % of the global-proven natural gas reserves.
With the 2.5 million tons of gas Senegal is expecting to extract each year from its offshore Liquid natural gas production project, Senegal will be a relatively small producer but will be able to make decisions among the other gas giants of the world.
Although the GECF is less influential than its petroleum counterpart, amid the global energy crisis, its geopolitical weight is only increasing.
The Ministerial Meeting is the supreme governing body of the Forum and meets once a year per the GECF Statute.
The 24th ministerial gathering will be held in Egypt this Sunday, just weeks ahead of the UN Climate change conference (COP 27)
