OPINION: Senegal President Macky Sall will spend the last week of August on vacation in France, reflecting on the myriad challenges facing his country as it catapults into the front ranks of African oil and gas producers.

Sall needs to regain his composure to prevent his upstream dream from unravelling.

BP and Kosmos Energy are battling to remove barriers to shipping first gas by 2022 from its Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project, Total has struck oil on fiercely contested deep-water acreage while the flagship SNE oil development remains mired in arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

Kosmos' decision to farm down to 10% at GTA was a blow, and snaring a suitor willing to take on substantial equity may be tough while controversy rages over the asset’s blocks.

SNE partners Cairn Energy, Far Ltd and Woodside are ready to start a $4 billion field development in the Rufisque-Sangomar-Sangomar Deep (RSSD) block, also targeting first oil in 2022 — but for a disagreement over the right of first refusal.

Far argued its pre-emptive right to pick up equity offloaded in 2016 to Woodside by the former operator had been ignored, and the Australian junior petitioned the ICC to have the transaction annulled.

Most believe the tribunal will not conclude until well into 2020 while optimists, such as Far, believe a decision will emerge before the end of the year.

Woodside chief executive Peter Coleman last week reminded investors that - even if Far’s claim is rejected - the production sharing contract will still expire on 4 December, meaning that partners must apply for an extension without delay.

Coleman says the venture may be hard-pressed to secure further delay if one party is playing fast and loose with the rules.

He reckons that only the presidency can grant reprieve, and Upstream understands he will probably get it, perhaps for three months while he secures the interest of bigger players to replace the two juniors which already seem to have one foot out the door.

(This is an Upstream opinion article.)

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OPINION: Sall needs steady hand to keep Senegal on course