According to the Bank’s website, the objective of this project is to improve the regulatory and technical capacity to manage gas resources effectively and enable gas-to-power investments to a bankable stage in Senegal and Mauritania.

Phase 1 of the SMART GAS regional MPA is a technical assistance, institutional strengthening and investment preparation operation that lays the foundational conditions for sustainable gas monetization and gas-to-power development in Senegal and Mauritania. It builds the human capital, regulatory frameworks, governance systems, and transaction-ready project structures that are prerequisites for the large physical investments planned under Phase 2. At a regional level, it promotes regulatory harmonization and operational alignment (such as pipeline O&M) as building blocks for a nascent regional gas market.

In Senegal (USD 30 million), it strengthens the State's capacity to independently oversee, monitor, audit, and capture revenues from producing offshore fields, while simultaneously enabling the domestic gas market through strategic planning, infrastructure studies, and private sector transaction support. In Mauritania (USD 20 million), it operationalizes the institutional and technical foundations for gas-to-power development and a modernized power transmission system. Phase 1 is an enabling operation that builds frameworks, capacities, plans, and bankable studies that will ultimately deliver cleaner and cheaper electricity to households and firms in both countries.

The overall environmental and social risk classification for Phase 1 is rated High, driven primarily by the significant downstream social and environmental risks and adverse impacts anticipated in Phase 2. While Phase 1 only finances technical assistance — including feasibility studies, E&S assessments, and transaction advisory support — these activities will directly shape the design, siting, and governance of future Phase 2 investments across the gas-to-power value chain in Senegal and Mauritania, which carry significant potential risks and adverse impacts on sensitive environmental and social receptors. However, the direct environmental and social risks for Phase 1 are considered Moderate and are associated mainly with field missions, inspections, and consultations and transaction advisory consultancy.

Total Project Cost: US$ 50.00 million
IDA Credit: US$ 50.00 million

CONTACT POINT - World Bank

Task Team Leader: Thomas Flochel
Title: Senior Energy Specialist
Email: tflochel@worldbank.org

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

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ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF THE WORLD BANK

The World Bank Inspection Panel is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by a World Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Inspection Panel, they may investigate to assess whether the World Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can contact the Inspection Panel or submit a complaint by emailing ipanel@worldbank.org. Information on how to file a complaint and a complaint request form are available at: https://www.inspectionpanel.org/how-to-file-complaint