Ambassadrice du Royaume-Uni au Sénégal, Carine Robarts : « BP est ici et continue d'investir »
Asked about the announced withdrawal of British Petroleum from the Yakar-Teranga block and its consequences, the British Ambassador to Senegal, Carine Robarts, was keen to reassure everyone about the continuation of the oil company's activities in the country.
“BP is here and continues to invest. There is no reason to think they will not pursue the GTA project,” the Ambassador stated. She clarified that the GTA project is clearly a structuring and absolutely critical project for the country’s economic growth and that there is no reason to believe the government and BP will not remain in agreement on the terms of the joint venture in which they are engaged.”
Regarding the transparency of the contractual framework, Carine Robarts is clear: "To my understanding, BP is entirely within the bounds of the law, the contract is completely transparent, there are no additional contracts. Therefore, it is the terms of their joint venture with Petrosen that are potentially under discussion."
The Ambassador emphasized the nature of large oil projects. “BP has invested heavily in the GTA project. These types of projects, whether the first or second phase, are generally loss-making at the outset. It's always this profile, with enormous initial investments. The further you progress, the more concrete, visible, and tangible the benefits become,” she explained. While expressing confidence, she added, “I think they will reach a mutually beneficial agreement that will highlight the very positive impact of this project.”
"The goal is to start by retaining existing investors and attracting new investors to high-potential sectors."
On the broader issue of Senegal's attractiveness to investors in a challenging economic and political context, the Ambassador acknowledges that "it is indeed a challenge; we mustn't kid ourselves." She emphasizes that "the objective is first to retain the investors who are already here—they are already involved, and withdrawing would be costly—and to attract new investors to high-potential sectors."
For Carine Robarts, what matters most to investors is not grand political speeches, but the business environment, the environment of trade and investment. "That is to say, the codes, namely the Investment Code, the General Tax Code and the fee on access to or use of the public telecommunications network (RUTEL), the reality, the experience of companies," she noted yesterday, during a meeting with journalists in the lead-up to the official launch event of the British Chamber of Commerce in Dakar on Monday, April 27.
Commending the efforts of the Senegalese government, she stated: "I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the government's efforts regarding these three codes. It is also our role to be able to relay the potential that this opens up for businesses."
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