Mauritania and Senegal have decided to work together and share the profits of gas production discovered by Kosmos off their coasts.

This is coming after the American Energy company discovered a massive gas field at Saint Louis, off the Senegalese coast in January.

The find initiated deep negotiations between the two countries which were in disagreement over the location of the production platform.

According to the Presidents of the two countries, their respective energy companies, Petrosen in Senegal and Smhpm of Mauritania have been ordered to work together with Kosmos for gas exploration and production.

Kosmos which is present in both countries entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Petrosen and SMHPM involving cooperation between the two governments, Petroleum Africa reports.

Under the agreement reached by the two countries, the offshore production platform will explore and exploit the gas from the field which is scheduled to commence production in 2020.

The gas field is considered to be the biggest in the region and it will make both Mauritania and Senegal become major gas producers and exporters.

Anita Fatunji