Following the footsteps of neighbor West African countries, Benin adopted in January 2019 a new Petroleum Act.
Our lawyers have vast experience in energy and natural resources and deliver to our clients the focused, innovative sector advice they need, in Senegal and beyond.
We are entering an era of unprecedented demand for power generation and transmission, especially in Africa. This dynamic, together with the challenges we all face from climate crisis, is creating new opportunities for alternative energies and new technologies. With landmark oil and gas finds along the west coast of Africa and strong gold and mineral deposits, the mining, oil and gas industries are growing in our region.
Our firm is a regional leader in these industries. In 2014, when Senegal’s first offshore oil discovery was made, we played an integral role in moving the country’s first exploration project forward by serving as advisors to the exploration company, a venture between Cairn Energy, ConocoPhillips and FAR Limited. We are the only law firm with a presence in the first mineral region of Senegal (Tambacounda), and assist our mining clients located there. Our partners also take an active role in supporting law reform in this sector, with participation in a study commissioned by the World Bank that has led to recommendations to the new mining code in Senegal.
Our energy clients receive coordinated, across-the-board coverage for their needs, including on construction and projects, corporate, competition, regulatory, contractual, trading, litigation/arbitration, dispute resolution and tax issues. We understand the technical, geographical, regulatory, commercial and geopolitical factors that shape the industry and have first-hand access to contacts, sponsors and decision makers.
Experience has included advising:
- Jindal Power in a USD900 million, 350 MW power plant deal with the state electricity company, Senelec – the largest energy deal ever in Senegal
- The SNE-1 joint venture (Cairn Energy/Woodside Petroleum/FAR) on the largest global offshore oil discovery in 2014 in Senegal
- Kosmos Energy on establishing its business and regulatory issues in Senegal
- Sundance on its iron ore project in the Republic of Congo
- Avenira on the acquisition of the Gidde Bissick mining permit in Senegal
- American Capital, the lenders in a wind farm operation in Taiba N’Diaye, Senegal
- Caterpillar on the engineering, procurement and construction contract in relation to a public-private partnership to build a 130 MW power plant in Senegal
- Pacific Drilling on local content requirements in Senegal
- Makabingui Resources on its loan and mining contract in Senegal
- Australian-listed company Minemakers in the acquisition of the Gidde Bissick mining permit in Senegal
- Toro Gold on the Mako Gold Project joint venture in Senegal
- Jindal Steel and Power on a mining joint venture in Cameroon
We are pleased to announce the publication of Chambers Global Guide 2019. The guide provides expert legal commentary on key issues for businesses. The guide covers the important developments in the most significant jurisdictions.
Ms Sow spoke on accessing finance for mining activities. She is an experienced banking and finance lawyer. She shared with the audience some tips for securing and safeguarding appropriate funding for resource development, particularly in light of changes to Senegal’s mining code enacted in 2016.