In a significant development German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, Berlin wants to pursue gas and renewable energy projects with Senegal.

The development comes in the backdrop of the war in Ukraine which is having a major impact on energy and food prices.

Scholz kicked off a three-day tour in Senegal, which has billions of cubic metres of gas reserves and is expected to become a major gas producer in the region.

Berlin aims to reduce its heavy reliance for LNG on Russia and has initiated talks with Senegalese authorities about gas extraction and liquified natural gas.

“It is a matter worth pursuing intensively,” said Scholz at a news conference with Senegalese President Macky Sall, while adding that progress in the talks was in the two countries common interest

“Germany was also interested in Senegalese renewable energy projects,” said Scholz .

Earlier last Friday, a German government official had said Germany could help explore a gas field in Senegal.

According to Sall, Senegal was ready to work towards supplying the European market with LNG and forecast Senegal’s LNG output reaching 2.5 million tonnes next year and 10 million tonnes by 2030.

In terms of gas exploration, project financing and other questions, “all that is open, and we are keen to work with Germany in this context,” said Sall.

Germany has invited Senegal and South Africa to attend the G7 summit in June as guest countries. Senegal currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the African Union.

Both, Senegal and South Africa, have abstained from voting on a United Nations resolution against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow has termed as a special military operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine, citing threats to its security.

Sal is scheduled to visit Moscow and Kyiv in the coming weeks.

“I expressed to Chancellor Scholz our serious concern about the impact of the war,” said Sall while requesting international help to lessen the fallout for African countries.

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