Senegal moves towards first oil
The Cairn-led SNE venture must now convert some of the world's largest recent discoveries into viable production
After a hectic three years of frequent discoveries and expanding ambitions, resulting in reserve estimates of at least 0.56bn barrels of oil, drilling activity has temporarily paused on the SNE development. But while Cairn Energy's base in Dakar is quiet, behind the scenes plenty is going on as the project partners seek an agreement with the government over development plans. A final investment decision is due by year-end. "It's just as busy, it's just not headline drilling activity," Simon Thomson, Cairn's chief executive, told Petroleum Economist. "There is an enormous amount going on in relation to the preparation for the development plan and the related work on placing contracts for all
Also in this section
16 January 2026
The country’s global energy importance and domestic political fate are interlocked, highlighting its outsized oil and gas powers, and the heightened fallout risk
16 January 2026
The global maritime oil transport sector enters 2026 facing a rare convergence of crude oversupply, record newbuild deliveries and the potential easing of several geopolitical disruptions that have shaped trade flows since 2022
15 January 2026
Rebuilding industry, energy dominance and lower energy costs are key goals that remain at odds in 2026
14 January 2026
Chavez’s socialist reforms boosted state control but pushed knowledge and capital out of the sector, opening the way for the US shale revolution
