Abdou Karim Fofana, spokesman for the Senegalese government (Al Jazeera)
Abdou Karim Fofana, Senegalese government spokesman and Minister of Trade and Consumer Affairs, said that his country wants to become a “petrochemical economy” and move towards oil and gas production.
He described - in a comprehensive interview with Al Jazeera Net - this trend as an “important turning point” for Senegal, which wants to transform into a strong industrial and economic center in the West African region.
The minister added that Senegal is preparing to produce the first quantities of oil and gas, but it is also preparing to transform its economy to be able to develop a broader industry and an important services economy, and to be a catalyst for the economy in Africa, and these are the overall changes expected from Africa, according to him.
He considered that oil and gas represent a factor in strengthening the economy, and this is something - the minister continues - that will change “the nature of our economy,” but he added, saying: “The first exploitation operations were expected, and I mean the first expected revenues, by the end of the year, and unfortunately they were postponed to 2024 (the current year).” ".
Abdou Karim Fofana said, "We want our economy to be petrochemical. We have a lot of phosphoric acid, and with gas we will be able to process it and make fertilizers ourselves and do this for the benefit of Senegal as well as for the benefit of the countries behind Senegal."
He continued, "We are creating a joint fund for generations because oil and gas belong to the Senegalese today, but it also belongs to the Senegalese of tomorrow," and explained that this fund will allow his country to implement strategic investments and guarantee income for the Senegalese.
The Senegalese minister also said that owning oil and gas would give his country a strong position in more modern economic sectors, such as industry. “Many products are imported from Asia and Europe to African countries, and given our geographical location and the requirements provided by oil and gas, we will be able to become an industrial center.” It is a service center and a very strong economic center overlooking the African mainland, especially the West African region.”
Regarding the management of the joint gas field between his country and Mauritania, Abdou Karim Fofana said, “First, we do not choose our neighbors, nor do we choose what nature has in store for us, and Mauritania is a brother country to Senegal.”
He added, "Currently, the divine will required that we have a gas field extending between the two maritime regions, and the leadership of our two countries was very wise from the beginning to reach an agreement on joint exploitation and work not to divide between Senegal and Mauritania, because that would be difficult and would be meaningless."
He continued: "This is real cooperation between two brotherly countries, and we have agreed on all the arrangements, and this is the most important. It is cooperation that deserves to be welcomed and encouraged, and it is a completely revolutionary thing for two countries to be able to achieve in a brotherly way despite the system and economic reality that surrounds them."
Source: Al Jazeera