Amid its oil and gas development, Senegal is enhancing its logistics capacity. Currently, 90% of the country’s foreign trade is conducted through the Port of Dakar. However, to accommodate its economic growth — with GDP projected to increase by 10.1% in 2025 — Senegal is constructing two new ports. The deep-water port of Ndayane is set to be completed by 2027, while the Bargny-Sendou port, expected by 2025, will specialize in the energy sector.
Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko announced a restructuring plan in September 2024 to expedite the Bargny Sendou port’s completion, aiming for it to become operational by the end of 2024. He highlighted the importance of a strong framework to monitor the concession contract and fulfill financial commitments, particularly for clearing the project site.
Prime Minister Sonko also emphasized connecting the Bargny Sendou port to major transportation corridors via rail and road to ensure integration into Senegal’s broader infrastructure plan. This initiative supports Senegal’s strategy to enhance maritime infrastructure, alongside the Ndayane port, solidifying its position as an energy hub. The port also has the potential to boost regional trade with the development of the Trans–West African Coastal Highway project, which will connect 12 West African coastal nations, from Mauritania to Nigeria, helping to alleviate congestion in neighboring ports of Senegal.
Building New Maritime Infrastructure
The Bargny Sendou port is a strategic initiative by the State of Senegal designed to enhance the import and export of minerals, hydrocarbons and cereal products. Situated 25 km south of Dakar, the project, developed by Senegal Minergy Port (SMP), began in 2019 with the goal of alleviating congestion at Dakar port and providing modern infrastructure to accommodate larger vessels, significantly reducing loading and unloading costs for maritime products.
With an annual processing capacity of 20 million tons of bulk products, Bargny Sendou port will strengthen Senegal’s port capabilities by allowing deep-draft vessels to load and unload their cargo, addressing the limitations of Dakar port. It is projected to handle 15 million tons of commodities in its first year of operation. The construction of a 1,485-meter offshore jetty, featuring a draft of up to 18 m, enables the port to service transport vessels exceeding 170,000 metric tons. This positions Senegal as a vital hub for maritime transport in Africa, particularly for the import and export of hydrocarbon derivatives.
Economic Impact
The Bargny Sendou port project is expected to significantly boost Senegal’s GDP, which is projected to grow by 10.1% in 2025, largely due to the exploitation of hydrocarbons. The project will create 740 jobs during the first phase of construction and 2,600 jobs once operational. By establishing the port as part of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the Senegalese government aims to drive structural transformation of the economy, fostering wealth creation, job opportunities, and social inclusion. The SEZ will attract investment, particularly from companies using the various terminals, encouraging them to set up local operations, including major projects like the Turkish group Tosyali’s mining and steel complex.
Additionally, the port of Bargny Sendou has the potential to boost regional trade by relieving congestion at Dakar’s port, which handles 50% of cargo bound for Mali, serving also landlocked countries Burkina Faso and Niger. The new port will not only ease traffic at Dakar but also strengthen logistical ties with other countries, such as Guinea-Conakry, which require enhanced transport capacity for resources like natural gas and oil.
Bargny Sendou Port in the Energy Value Chain
The Bargny Sendou port plays a key role in Senegal’s strategy to expand its extractive industry. Of the three terminals planned for the port, one will focus on handling liquid cargo, one will handle mining products and the third one will be dedicated to general trade. This new terminal will receive, store and distribute Gasoline, Jet A1, Gasoil, Fuel Oil and Bitumen to Senegal and external markets. To support these operations, SMP has enlisted the engineering firm EPCM to design and build five multi-fuel pipelines connecting the port’s berth to the tank farms where imported fuel will be stored. With the design phase complete, construction of the pipelines is already underway.
With the first oil from the Sangomar field produced in June 2024, the Bargny Sendou port has the potential to become a hub for exporting the 100,000 barrels per day that Woodside, the international company leading the project, plans to produce. Additionally, the first terminal with a capacity of 2.5 million tons will also be utilized as a depot to store natural gas production, anticipated by Q1 2025. This underscores the importance of the port as a crucial link in the energy value chain.
The second terminal will focus on supporting Senegal’s expanding phosphate and fertilizer industry. The port is also expected to handle other mineral exports such as iron ore, bauxite and alumina from regional countries like Mauritania and Guinea-Conakry, further driving regional trade growth.
Regional collaboration is one of the key objectives of the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2024 conference and exhibition, which will take place in Dakar from December 3-4. International investors and stakeholders from across the energy and mining value chains will gather to discuss the latest projects, including maritime infrastructure.
Explore opportunities, foster partnerships and stay at the forefront of the MSGBC region’s oil, gas and power sector. Visit www.msgbcoilgasandpower.com to secure your participation at the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2024 conference. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.
