For the first time in its history, Senegal has begun refining domestically produced crude oil, marking a major milestone in the country’s energy sector. The African Refinery Company (SAR), which has operated since 1961, announced on Thursday that it successfully processed oil from the Sangomar field, an offshore production site in west-central Senegal.
Until now, SAR had only refined imported crude, but this latest development signals a shift toward greater energy self-sufficiency. The company revealed that since Saturday, it has refined 650,000 barrels of crude, yielding around 90,000 tonnes of fuel products, including diesel, kerosene, petrol, and butane gas. These refined fuels are now being stored for local distribution.
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Senegal officially began oil production in June at the Sangomar field, operated by the Australian energy company Woodside Energy. In addition to oil, the country also entered the natural gas market in December, sharing production with neighboring Mauritania along their maritime border.
While Senegal’s production levels remain far below those of major African oil producers like Nigeria, the new oil and gas ventures are expected to generate billions of dollars in revenue. This economic boost could significantly accelerate the country’s development, supporting both exports and domestic energy consumption.
