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Senegal is advancing an ambitious USD 5 billion plan to construct a second oil refinery aimed at closing its domestic fuel supply gap and reducing reliance on imported petroleum products. Dubbed “SAR 2.0,” the project would add 4 million tons of annual refining capacity by 2029, significantly expanding the country’s energy infrastructure.
Backed by investment interest from China, Turkey, and South Korea, the new facility is expected to be supplied with crude from the Sangomar oil and gas field, which began production in 2024. This field, operated by Woodside Energy with state-owned Petrosen as a partner, produces roughly 4.6 million tons of crude annually.
Currently, the country’s sole refinery—Société Africaine de Raffinage (SAR)—processes just 1.5 million tons per year, leaving Senegal dependent on costly fuel imports. SAR CEO Mamadou Abib Diop told Reuters that construction of the new facility could begin as early as 2026, pending final investment decisions and site selection.
The SAR 2.0 initiative is part of a broader shift in West Africa, as nations like Senegal and Nigeria seek to bolster refining capacity and reduce dependence on foreign fuel. Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, recently came online and is poised to become a major regional supplier.
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By 2029, Senegal aims not only to achieve fuel self-sufficiency but also to emerge as an exporter within a region increasingly focused on energy security and market stability. As Diop noted, “A lot of investors are coming and giving their interest about financing these projects.”