MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025: West Africa’s Energy Future Takes Center Stage in Dakar

The energy spotlight is firmly on West Africa this week as the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference officially opened its doors in Dakar, Senegal on December 9. Now in its fourth edition, this high-level summit has become the premier gathering for stakeholders shaping the energy landscape across Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea-Conakry—collectively known as the MSGBC basin.

A Region on the Rise

West Africa’s MSGBC region is experiencing a remarkable energy transformation. The opening ceremony, held at the Centre International de Conférences Abdou Diouf, featured Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who emphasized the importance of regional integration, energy sovereignty, and ensuring that resource development translates into shared prosperity for all citizens.

The timing couldn’t be more significant. The region has recently celebrated two major milestones that signal its arrival on the global energy stage: the Sangomar oil field achieved first oil in 2024, while the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project reached first gas just this month. These achievements represent years of planning, investment, and collaboration, and they’re setting the foundation for what many believe will be a decade of unprecedented growth.

Beyond Fossil Fuels: A Balanced Energy Vision

While oil and gas developments dominate headlines, the three-day conference (December 8-10) is exploring a more nuanced energy future. Sessions are delving into clean energy technologies, renewable energy expansion, and perhaps most ambitiously, green hydrogen production.

Mauritania, in particular, has unveiled bold plans to produce 12.5 million tons of green hydrogen by 2035. This positions the region not just as a fossil fuel supplier, but as a potential leader in the global clean energy transition. The question being debated at the summit is how to balance immediate revenue needs from traditional hydrocarbons with long-term sustainable energy goals.

The Local Content Challenge

One of the most critical themes at MSGBC 2025 is ensuring that energy wealth benefits local communities. Discussions are centered on striking the delicate balance between attracting international investment and maximizing local participation. This includes workforce development, skills training, supply chain integration, and creating pathways for domestic companies to compete in the energy sector.

President Faye’s emphasis on “shared prosperity” reflects a growing awareness across African energy-producing nations that resource development must deliver tangible benefits to citizens through jobs, infrastructure, and economic opportunities—not just government revenues.

Regional Unity as a Competitive Advantage

A recurring theme at the summit is the power of regional cooperation. The continuity between previous MSGBC conferences and this year’s edition demonstrates an increasingly coordinated approach to energy policy across borders. By presenting a united front, these five nations can negotiate better terms with international partners, share infrastructure to reduce costs, and create integrated energy markets that benefit the entire region.

What’s at Stake

The MSGBC basin represents one of Africa’s most promising energy frontiers. For regional governments, it’s an opportunity to accelerate development, create jobs, and build energy security. For international investors and energy companies, it’s a chance to tap into new reserves and participate in emerging markets. For local communities, it’s potentially transformative—if managed correctly.

The conversations happening in Dakar this week will shape policy decisions, investment flows, and development strategies for years to come. As the summit continues through December 10, all eyes are on whether the MSGBC region can chart a course that delivers both energy abundance and inclusive prosperity.

The MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference runs through December 10, 2025 in Dakar, Senegal, bringing together ministers, energy executives, investors, and industry leaders from across West Africa and the international community.