Our Mission
Highlight the negative impacts of the oil and gas industry on human beings,
on the environment, pollution of coastal areas and marine ecosystems
Senegal has two large oil fields off its coast: Great Ahmeyim Turtle (GTA) to the north, and Sangomar SNE to the south (center). In these two oil fields, there are 29 licence blocks planned for production, including onshore, offshore and deep offshore locations, of which two offshore blocks have been authorized for production: St. Louis (GTA) and Sangomar (SNE).
Oil majors BP, Total Energies and Woodside Energy are preparing for production from the end of 2023 in the approved blocks. In addition, a faster development of additional blocks is planned for the next decade, which has the potential to rapidly transform Senegal into an oil state under strong influence of the oil industry. Additional infrastructure is planned in terms of floating production, storage and unloading (FPSO) vessels, industrial wharves, refineries and pipelines and power generation facilities. Through its public oil company PETROSEN, the Government of Senegal is an active partner.
Risks of oil drilling
More than one billion barrels of oil and 40 trillion cubic feet of petroleum gas (also known as natural gas) are at stake. Together, these two fields have the potential to release 2.634 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, more than 11 times Senegal’s total carbon footprint for the past 20 years. And, beyond CO2, petroleum gas carries a significant risk of methane leaks, quite common in the sector. Methane is 86 times more potent as a greenhouse gas in the first 20 years after its emission to the atmosphere, and new efforts around the world are targeting the sector for reduction, but it is unclear how these reductions would apply to new oil production. A country like Senegal, with little regulatory capacity or experience.
Beyond the obvious climate risks, there are four main risks related to the development of fossil fuels:
A catastrophic spill that could destroy the coastal ecosystem and devastate local fisheries. BP’s oil spill response plan is inadequate, any response to a disaster should come elsewhere. This would significantly extend the response time, until it is too late to avoid any devastation that may occur.
Small, continuous and standardized spills, release of toxic chemicals from drilling sites, oil transfers and land infrastructure, which would have a cumulative negative impact on the health of fisheries and coastal communities
Physical impacts of the industry: that is to say, underground/seismic noise pollution, taking land for infrastructure (pipelines, terminals), blocking access to quality fishing areas, Political influence of the oil industry on Senegalese policy
Regional importance
The projects approved and proposed in Senegal represent a major expansion of fossil fuels in Africa, particularly in West Africa. The oil fields off the coast of Senegal are quite contiguous, with the fields off Mauritania to the north and Guinea-Bissau to the south. If the fossil fuel industry is allowed to establish a strong foothold in Senegal, it will provide a basis for its expansion throughout the region, damaging fisheries and livelihoods and leaving a toxic legacy, as we have seen time and time again around the world. This has major implications for the global climate, food security and community health and, given the industry’s dismal record: community self-determination and human rights.
In particular, areas and communities around the Saloum River Delta are particularly vulnerable to oil development in the Sangomar Reserve, which is being developed by Woodside Energy. The area is a critical hotspot for biodiversity with fragile mangroves, a biosphere reserve, the Saloum Delta National Park (a RAMSAR site and a UNESCO World Heritage site), artisanal fishing and a sustainable tourism economy. The CRADESC coalition partner worked closely with the community there and developed an action plan to affirm the community’s right to say no.
Status of the campaign
Throughout 2022, Waterkeeper Alliance coordinated with its local Waterkeeper groups (Hann Baykeeper – based in Dakar, and Bargny Coast Waterkeeper – based in Bargny, 20 km south of Dakar) and the Centre for Research and Action on Social and Cultural Economic Rights (CRADESC) to launch an authentic local Campaign to resist fossil fuel development and increase local awareness of climate change and the risks of fossil fuels.
In the summer of 2022, the campaign was launched under the name Saving the Sea and Fishing ( -translated into English: save the coast and fisheries in wolof as Aar Guedj Gui Ak Napagi. The groups organized a climate and oil conference in Rufisque in September 2022, and Waterkeeper Alliance contributed to the event with a virtual presentation.
The groups meet weekly to discuss issues and plan activities and have established strong reporting, group decision making and planning systems.
Objectifs de la campagne
- Block or delay the start of drilling in 2023
- Prevent the authorization of additional blocks
- Reducing international support, financing and insurance for Senegal
- Accélérer la transition vers les énergies renouvelables au Sénégal
- Strengthening the coalition and building capacity
- Support the right of frontline communities to say no
campaign strategies
As the campaign progresses, it will work on three main strategies:
Local awareness (awareness), engagement and empowerment to build on existing support in affected communities, growing coalition membership, diversity and power as well as the capacity of local organizations
Technical review and legal strategy to analyze the processes followed and whether Senegalese and/or international standards have been met for risk mitigation and public consultation
Project Objectives:
Coalition Stewardship and Capacity Growth
Build and manage the coalition with regular meetings of the SMP coalition steering committee (main project partners), action planning and internal communications.
Recruit additional local partners and leaders from affected communities
Co-design an action plan with community members, revise the overall campaign plan if necessary to reflect the contributions of partners and the community
Approach international climate groups and activist organizations already engaged in opposition to Total, Woodside, BP and fossil fuels in Africa
Manage relationships with international partners
Grassroots awareness and awareness
Organize four workshops (one likely to last several days) to highlight the dangers of oil drilling and fossil fuel development
Direct outreach to communities that may be affected by drilling
Meet community leaders for fishing, fish processing, environmental associations, religious groups, universities
Organize a public march
Target = 2000 participants
Investigate the possibility of the on-water event involving fishing vessels and media developing a plan for an aquatic event
Global advocacy
Planning the coalition trip to COP28, Dubai (Waterkeeper Alliance is an accredited UNFCCC observer)
Apply to organize a side event
Networking with global partners participating in the COP
Work to secure additional funding for this activity
Securing media coverage during COP to link climate negotiations to oil drilling
Work with Reclaim Finance, Urge Wald and the Insure our Future coalition to identify sources of financing and underwriting insurance for Senegalese oil and gas, launch a global awareness campaign
Working with Don’t Gas Africa, Fridays for Future and other coalitions to raise the profile of oil drilling in Senegal among global climate activists
opportunities and risks
Based on recent interactions with global climate actors and oil and gas policies, few are aware of the rapid development of fossil fuels in Senegal and West Africa. However, global awareness is increasing about the risks of developing new sources of oil and gas that are totally incompatible with international agreements to limit greenhouse gas emissions to 1.50 C (or 20 C) there is an excellent opportunity to strengthen community resistance and international pressure to slow or block oil development in Senegal. In particular, alignment with popular efforts (e.g., Don’t Gas Africa, Insure Our Future, Fridays for Future) may attract additional international attention.
Senegal is a very vulnerable country in terms of loss and damage and adaptation needs to climate change. The increased focus on loss and damage in international negotiations will highlight the absurdity of oil drilling in a vulnerable country like Senegal.
Senegal is a country that gives citizens the right to oppose government policies, but in practice many are unaware of their rights, and intimidation and security threats can limit people’s willingness to participate. The alignment of major international groups and the support of legal experts and opinions can help legitimize civil resistance and provide an element of cover for citizen activists. However, this remains a concern for the coalition and partners in Senegal have experience managing these challenges.
