Senegal hosts inaugural Africa Oil & Gas Expo – AFOGEX 2026
Key objectives included showcasing Senegal’s major oil and gas projects — Sangomar, Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA), and Yakaar-Teranga — and enhancing the country’s attractiveness to national and international investors. The forum also focused on promoting local content, integrating African SMEs into the value chain, facilitating skills and technology transfer, and encouraging regional energy cooperation. Other priorities were raising awareness on HSE, environmental and governance issues, exploring natural gas as a transitional energy source, and stimulating job creation and socio-economic development. Organizers said the outcome of AFOGEX 2026 is expected to make it a key annual event for the African energy industry, providing a platform to build partnerships and propose concrete solutions to make oil and gas a true engine of development for Senegal and Africa. The Gambia was represented by Mrs. Cany Jobe, Director General of the Petroleum Commission, and Mr. Momodou Sowe, Senior Petroleum Officer, on behalf of Mr. Nani Juwara, Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines. DG Jobe described the conference as a valuable platform for strengthening ties with regional and international partners and exchanging experiences on responsible petroleum resource development. “As a frontier exploration country, it is significant for The Gambia to learn from others, understand investment and energy policy trends, and ensure our regulatory frameworks remain competitive and aligned with international best practice,” she said. She added that the event reinforced the importance of regional cooperation, noting that many opportunities and challenges facing African producers transcend borders. Speaking at the opening, Mr. Ibrahima Sene, General Manager of Petroleum Senegal Industries (PSI), said Senegal is at a pivotal moment with Sangomar, GTA, and Yakaar-Teranga coming online. “This exceptional opportunity must become a driver of inclusive growth, job creation, skills transfer, and sustainable development,” he stated. Mr. Sene stressed that success depends not only on resources but on governance, strong institutions, and local content. “If we had to summarize our ambition in one word, it would be: local content,” he said, describing it as the engine of economic sovereignty. He emphasized maximizing local content through downstream processing — ammonia for fertilizer, methanol, propylene and polypropylene. Building a second refinery with a petrochemical complex remains a strategic objective, he noted. Citing rising international oil prices, Mr. Sene said it is crucial to guarantee self-sufficiency in refined products for Senegal and the sub-region, and to expand storage capacity to cushion against price volatility. He said these projects can be delivered through Public-Private Partnerships and international investment. The three-day forum closed with calls for stronger partnerships to turn Africa’s natural resources into sustainable wealth for its people.
Black News 
Key objectives included showcasing Senegal’s major oil and gas projects — Sangomar, Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA), and Yakaar-Teranga — and enhancing the country’s attractiveness to national and international investors. The forum also focused on promoting local content, integrating African SMEs into the value chain, facilitating skills and technology transfer, and encouraging regional energy cooperation.
Other priorities were raising awareness on HSE, environmental and governance issues, exploring natural gas as a transitional energy source, and stimulating job creation and socio-economic development.
Organizers said the outcome of AFOGEX 2026 is expected to make it a key annual event for the African energy industry, providing a platform to build partnerships and propose concrete solutions to make oil and gas a true engine of development for Senegal and Africa.
The Gambia was represented by Mrs. Cany Jobe, Director General of the Petroleum Commission, and Mr. Momodou Sowe, Senior Petroleum Officer, on behalf of Mr. Nani Juwara, Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines.
DG Jobe described the conference as a valuable platform for strengthening ties with regional and international partners and exchanging experiences on responsible petroleum resource development.
“As a frontier exploration country, it is significant for The Gambia to learn from others, understand investment and energy policy trends, and ensure our regulatory frameworks remain competitive and aligned with international best practice,” she said.
She added that the event reinforced the importance of regional cooperation, noting that many opportunities and challenges facing African producers transcend borders.
Speaking at the opening, Mr. Ibrahima Sene, General Manager of Petroleum Senegal Industries (PSI), said Senegal is at a pivotal moment with Sangomar, GTA, and Yakaar-Teranga coming online.
“This exceptional opportunity must become a driver of inclusive growth, job creation, skills transfer, and sustainable development,” he stated.
Mr. Sene stressed that success depends not only on resources but on governance, strong institutions, and local content. “If we had to summarize our ambition in one word, it would be: local content,” he said, describing it as the engine of economic sovereignty.
He emphasized maximizing local content through downstream processing — ammonia for fertilizer, methanol, propylene and polypropylene. Building a second refinery with a petrochemical complex remains a strategic objective, he noted.
Citing rising international oil prices, Mr. Sene said it is crucial to guarantee self-sufficiency in refined products for Senegal and the sub-region, and to expand storage capacity to cushion against price volatility. He said these projects can be delivered through Public-Private Partnerships and international investment.
The three-day forum closed with calls for stronger partnerships to turn Africa’s natural resources into sustainable wealth for its people.
