Senegal Ministry: Clarifies Eni Yakaar-Teranga Protocol

• Senegal's Ministry of Energy and Petroleum denied that a protocol with Eni concerns the Yakaar-Teranga gas field.
• The agreement exclusively permits Eni to self-finance preliminary studies on five specific offshore blocks, not including Yakaar-Teranga's SN08M.
• The Ministry clarified that the document is not an oil contract and grants Eni no exploration or exploitation rights.
• Any future collaboration would require adherence to Senegalese law, new negotiations, and further approvals.
• The Ministry urged caution in information dissemination and affirmed its commitment to responsible resource development within legal frameworks.

The Ministry firmly stated that the protocol grants Eni no rights of exploration or exploitation, no ownership over any resources, and no automatic guarantee of securing a future oil contract.

The Senegal Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has issued a formal clarification to address public controversy surrounding a protocol signed with the Italian energy group Eni. The Ministry explicitly denied claims that the agreement pertains to the significant Yakaar-Teranga gas field, seeking to quell speculation that had circulated regarding the national resource.

According to a report by journalist Mariama Dièmé in Le Soleil on September 18, 2026, the Ministry's statement emphasized that the protocol's scope is strictly limited to the evaluation of potential oil and gas reserves within five distinct offshore blocks. This direct refutation aims to correct what authorities perceive as a fundamental misunderstanding of the agreement's purpose and geographical reach.

The Ministry's intervention underscores its commitment to transparency and accurate information dissemination regarding the nation's strategic energy assets. The clarification specifically targets the narrative suggesting a 'sell-off' of the Yakaar-Teranga field, asserting that such claims are based on erroneous interpretations of the signed document.

The protocol exclusively authorizes Eni to finance and conduct preliminary geological and geophysical studies across five designated offshore areas. These blocks are identified as Saint-Louis Offshore Shallow (SN01M), Cayar Offshore Shallow (SN02M), Rufisque Offshore (SN03M), Saint-Louis Offshore Profond (SN07M), and Sénégal Offshore Sud Profond (SN40M). Crucially, the Ministry highlighted that the Yakaar and Teranga discoveries are situated within block SN08M, a designation not included among the areas covered by the Eni agreement.

Furthermore, the Ministry addressed a map circulating on social media, which it identified as an outdated working version. This map, according to the authorities, does not reflect the definitive division of Senegal's oil domain and has contributed significantly to the confusion surrounding the protocol's actual scope. The Ministry stressed that the document signed with Eni is not an oil contract and does not constitute an allocation of exploration or exploitation blocks.

This distinction is vital, as the protocol merely permits Eni to undertake initial assessments, funded by the company itself, without granting any inherent rights to the resources or the territory. The government's stance is that the agreement is a preliminary step, strictly for data gathering, rather than a definitive concession of national assets.

The Ministry firmly stated that the protocol grants Eni no rights of exploration or exploitation, no ownership over any resources, and no automatic guarantee of securing a future oil contract. This critical detail reinforces the preliminary nature of the agreement and the robust legal safeguards in place for Senegal's natural resources.

Any potential continuation of collaboration between Eni and the Senegalese government would be subject to the stringent procedures mandated by Senegalese legislation. This includes the necessity for new negotiations and subsequent official approvals, ensuring that all future engagements align with national interests and legal requirements. The Ministry's position is that the expression 'bradage de Yakaar-Teranga' (sell-off of Yakaar-Teranga) is fundamentally flawed, stemming from a dual misunderstanding: the Yakaar-Teranga field is not part of the protocol, and no petroleum rights have been conferred to Eni through this agreement.

This clarification underscores the government's commitment to adhering to established legal frameworks for resource management, preventing any unilateral or unapproved transfer of rights. It also serves as a reminder that all stages of resource development are subject to national oversight and regulatory processes.

In light of the misinformation, the Ministry has urged greater prudence in the dissemination of information concerning the country's oil and gas resources. This call for caution reflects the sensitivity surrounding national energy assets and the potential for public confusion to arise from inaccurate reporting or speculative claims.

The Ministry affirmed its ongoing commitment, in collaboration with PETROSEN and other relevant institutions, to revitalize exploration efforts and enhance the value of Senegal's sedimentary basin. This strategic objective is to be pursued strictly within the framework of Senegal's strategic interests and the prevailing legal provisions. The government's long-term vision for its energy sector emphasizes responsible development and adherence to national sovereignty over its natural wealth.

Source: Original reporting via Le Soleil