As a New Producer, Senegal Must Regulate Methane

Fossil fuels and the global methane challenge

Globally, fossil fuels are the leading source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—including methane, a short-lived but extremely potent gas. Cutting methane emissions is now unavoidable in a context of urgent energy and climate security.

In Senegal, the issue has become especially pressing. A recent gas leak at well A02 of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project—an offshore development shared with Mauritania—highlighted the environmental risks tied to oil and gas extraction. The incident underscored persistent gaps in oversight and transparency, while also showing the need to strengthen accountability mechanisms. It sparked renewed attention from civil society, the media, and local communities, who are increasingly vigilant about methane risks.

International and national initiatives

At the international level, regulation is a critical lever for curbing methane emissions from oil and gas. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has developed practical tools, including its global policy database and the Methane Tracker 2025, which details technical and regulatory options to cut emissions.

Senegal’s government has signaled its willingness to act. Recent revisions to the petroleum and environmental codes include bans on routine gas flaring, venting (the release of gas directly into the atmosphere) and crude oil burning. A roadmap accompanies these reforms, with provisions to build the capacity of stakeholders involved in emissions management. 

A legal framework in the making

In its nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, Senegal has pledged to reduce overall GHG emissions by 5% by 2025 and 7% by 2030. The country is also preparing to join the Global Methane Pledge.

It has ratified key international agreements, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. Requirements of the 2023 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Standard—such as disclosure on emissions—further reinforce this framework.

Domestically, relevant provisions include:

• Article 25-2 of the Constitution: obliges public authorities to protect the environment and ecosystems.
• Law 2010-21: targets reductions in fossil fuel use and GHG emissions.
• Article 53 of the 2019 Petroleum Code: requires companies to prevent and mitigate pollution and manage waste.
• Article 133 of the 2023 Environment Code: bans gas flaring and venting, and strengthens requirements for environmental assessments and transparency.
• Decree 2025-227: mandates guidelines on GHG emissions and flaring.

However, major gaps remain. Neither the petroleum code’s annexes nor the environment code’s implementing decree explicitly address methane. A decree foreseen under Article 33—which would require mitigation and management plans—has yet to be adopted.

Persistent challenges

Despite progress, several challenges remain:

• Regulatory gaps: no methane-specific legislation.
• Institutional weaknesses: limited enforcement and monitoring capacity.
• Disconnects: between international commitments and national law.

The polluter-pays principle is recognized, but no methane pricing mechanisms exist (such as fines for leaks or penalties for repeat offenders). Nor are there incentives for capturing, re-using, or recycling methane.

Data is fragmented, not centralized, and often inaccessible to the public—undermining transparency. Senegal also lacks a mandatory system for measuring, reporting, and verifying emissions (MRV), which is key for accountability. Operators are not required to follow clear technical standards, conduct leak detection and repair (LDAR), or meet minimum gas recovery rates.

Although companies like BP and Woodside have joined the international Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0, these commitments have yet to be enshrined in Senegalese law. Methane is also absent from the country’s current (2020) NDC—weakening credibility and potentially limiting access to climate finance. 

Turning challenges into opportunities

These obstacles can become opportunities if Senegal leverages: international best practices, climate finance, national momentum for reform, civil society vigilance and new requirements under the 2023 EITI Standard.

Lessons can be drawn from other countries:

• Ghana integrated methane targets into its NDC.
• Nigeria requires monthly emissions reporting.
• Canada combines performance standards with tax incentives.
• Norway imposed a tax on offshore flaring and venting between 2015 and 2024.
• The European Union will require operators to quantify and report methane emissions at source from 2025.

These examples show that ambitious regulation is both possible and practical.

The IEA identifies four complementary regulatory approaches Senegal could adopt:

• Prescriptive: set technical standards, MRV, and LDAR requirements.
• Performance-based: establish reduction targets.
• Economic: use taxes or market mechanisms.
• Informational: require operators to disclose and publish emissions data.

To advance, Senegal should:

• Fast-track a methane-specific regulatory framework for oil and gas.
• Require companies to publish detailed methane emissions reports.
• Integrate methane reduction targets into the revised NDC.
• Establish a national monitoring and alert system, with a robust MRV framework.
• Ensure effective participation of civil society and affected communities.

Conclusion: an opportunity not to be missed

In August 2025, during a high-level workshop on oil, gas, and mining codes, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko summed up the balancing act: “We do not want codes that deter investment, but neither do we want permissive codes.”

This reform momentum is a crucial opportunity. But methane must not remain the “blind spot” of Senegal’s emerging energy sector. It must become a central pillar of governance—with ambitious, well-adapted mechanisms that reflect environmental, economic, and transparency priorities.

For Senegal, as a new producer, getting methane regulation right will be decisive—not only to prevent economic losses, secure energy supply, and protect communities and ecosystems, but also to demonstrate international credibility and unlock climate finance needed for a just transition.