Fatou Diop, Legal, Contracts and Local Content Manager, and Malcolm Watson, Managing Director of MODEC Senegal, are scheduled to participate as speakers at the MSGBC Oil, Gas and Power 2025 conference, which will take place in Dakar from 8 to 10 December. Their attendance reflects the evolving role of MODEC Senegal in shaping the country’s nascent but critical offshore hydrocarbon sector.
The event is set against the backdrop of Senegal’s entry into commercial oil production through the Sangomar field, operated by Woodside Energy in partnership with the national oil company Petrosen. Located approximately 100 kilometres south of Dakar in water depths of around 780 metres, the Sangomar development achieved first oil in June 2024 and represents a milestone for the country’s energy trajectory. The initial development phase targets an estimated 230 million barrels of recoverable oil, positioning Senegal within the broader landscape of emerging hydrocarbon producers on the continent.
MODEC Senegal plays a pivotal role in the ongoing implementation and support of the project, overseeing the full lifecycle of the FPSO Léopold Sédar Senghor unit. This Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel, converted from a very large crude carrier, is central to the Sangomar operation. The FPSO has a crude oil production capacity of 100,000 barrels per day, a gas production capability of 130 million standard cubic feet per day, water injection capacity of 145,000 barrels per day and a crude oil storage capacity of 1.3 million barrels. Its design includes provisions for future upgrades such as gas export functionality and tiebacks from adjacent fields.
Beyond technical execution, MODEC Senegal has committed to supporting the localisation of capacity across the industry. Through long term operation and maintenance of the FPSO, the company is creating pathways for knowledge transfer and employment. The project scope includes offshore commissioning and maintenance operations managed locally by MODEC Senegal, with an initial ten year duration and options for renewal.
Furthermore, MODEC’s engineering subsidiary SOFEC has delivered the external turret mooring system integral to the FPSO’s function. Strategic partnerships with companies including Axess Group have been established to build local engineering and operational competencies. These collaborations are aligned with national content policies and broader regional objectives of resource-led industrial development.
As Senegal and the wider MSGBC region progress with hydrocarbon exploration and development, platforms such as MSGBC Oil, Gas and Power 2025 offer critical space for multi stakeholder engagement. The inclusion of Senegalese executives such as Diop and Watson underlines the importance of grounded expertise and local stewardship in the management of natural resources.
The participation of MODEC Senegal in this year’s forum highlights the increasing agency of African actors within complex global energy systems. It also invites further reflection on how regional oil and gas development can be harnessed to meet local socioeconomic goals while navigating the demands of energy transition.
