New White Paper Exposes the Primary Corporate Beneficiaries of Senegal’s Offshore Oil and Gas Expansion

January 26, 2026

Today, Waterkeeper Alliance, in partnership with Senegalese Waterkeeper groups Hann Baykeeper and Bargny Coast Waterkeeper, released a new white paper, Threat Below the Surface: Offshore Drilling in Senegal Poses Environmental, Economic, and Human Health Risks. The report exposes Senegal’s offshore oil and gas expansion, highlighting the main corporate beneficiaries and the insurers backing them—often at the expense of local communities. The findings show that these projects undermine Senegal’s climate commitments and pose serious economic, public health, and environmental risks for local communities.

“We’ve seen what happens in countries like Nigeria and Congo when profit-hungry oil executives get their way. Local economies are devastated, governments are destabilized, and oil pollution spoils our waters. All to extract our resources to send overseas and enrich foreign CEOs,” said Mbacke Seck, Executive Director, Hann Baykeeper. “Senegal won’t be the next sacrifice zone to the big oil and gas industry. It’s time our leaders stood up to protect our coasts, our fishing economy, and our communities by stopping the expansion of offshore drilling now.”

Timed with the 2026 UN Water Conference preparatory session currently taking place in Dakar, this report pushes these local realities onto a global stage and sends a clear message: solutions cannot be credible unless they confront real risks on the ground and center the voices of the communities living with their consequences. Conversations about protecting water cannot ignore offshore drilling, a growing threat to communities and water security in Senegal and other climate-vulnerable nations. Waterkeeper Alliance is calling on the United Nations to make offshore drilling a priority issue at the conference, which will be co-hosted by Senegal and the United Arab Emirates from December 2–4, 2026.

Senegal is aggressively pursuing development of oil and gas infrastructure, including the massive Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project, the Sangomar deepwater field, the Yakaar–Teranga offshore gas project, the Sendou and Cap des Biches gas-to-power plants, and the Diamniadio and Saint-Louis industrial gas hubs. The impacts of these projects threaten food security and community well-being, exacerbating vulnerabilities in a region already affected by sea level rise, coastal erosion, and other climate-change-related stressors. It is also unclear whether these offshore drilling projects have adequate insurance coverage, or which insurance companies are providing coverage. Without adequate insurance coverage, disaster-related costs would fall onto local communities.

“We must be wary of the false hope of the oil and gas industry,” said Marc Yaggi, CEO of Waterkeeper Alliance. “While the industry tries to lure developing nations in with the promise of jobs and other economic opportunities, its long-term prospects are fraught with challenges. We stand with our Senegalese partners in calling for a future that prioritizes local water security and sustainable energy over the volatile, short-term interests of foreign fossil fuel markets.”

Senegal’s reliance on fossil fuel megaprojects creates significant public finance risks and diverts investment from water systems, coastal protection, and renewable energy. Foreign-controlled infrastructure could lock the country into decades of debt and exposure to volatile oil and gas markets. Promises of job creation and affordable energy have largely failed, with most benefits going to foreign firms rather than local communities.

The white paper recommends steps for Senegalese leaders to align energy policy with climate goals and lead the global shift toward a sustainable, water-secure future. The recommendations include:

• A moratorium on new offshore oil and gas projects. Current offshore drilling operations must be halted and plans to expand must be suspended. Transparent, participatory, and rights-based environmental and social assessments should be conducted in line with international standards;
• A public national audit of existing fossil fuel contracts and financing mechanisms, ensuring fiscal accountability and debt sustainability;
• Investment in renewable energy infrastructure and resilient blue economies, particularly fisheries, that support local employment and food security, and solar energy, already the cheapest and most efficient energy option in Senegal;
• Strengthened community notice and public input, including disclosure of impact assessments, emergency response plans, and community engagement opportunities;
• Adequate insurance coverage and transparency, including the release of all insurance certificates to the public and an audit to ensure that insurance coverage adequately protects communities from the burden of potential risks.

The white paper is available in both English and French.

The Sauver la Mer et la Pêche/Save Our Coast and Fisheries campaign is jointly led by Waterkeeper Alliance, Hann Baykeeper, and Bargny Coast Waterkeeper. It addresses the socio-economic and environmental threats posed by offshore oil and gas drilling in Senegal. Learn more.