The consultation committee on gas exploitation in the Saint-Louis region held its third meeting on Tuesday, dedicated to assessing the impacts of the gas project on local communities, particularly fishermen. While several support measures are planned, such as the installation of artificial reefs and marine containers, disagreements remain regarding the choice of sites.

Chaired by Al Hassane Sall, governor of the Saint-Louis region, the meeting provided an opportunity to review the commitments made to support fishermen affected by gas activities. "We have just held the third meeting of this committee established to discuss issues related to gas exploitation and its impact on the daily lives of Saint-Louis residents, particularly fishermen," explained the governor.

According to him, the Directorate General of the Seabed (DGFM) has already conducted a diving mission to identify suitable areas for reef placement. The results have been shared with stakeholders, and a convergence of views seems to be emerging for certain sites. However, disagreements persist between different groups of fishermen: some support the initial site selection, while others advocate for an alternative location.

To ease these tensions, local authorities have sought the mediation of the elders of “Barack Bi,” a meeting place for the elders of Gueth Ndar. “The containers are already available in Saint-Louis. All that remains is to confirm the site where they will be placed. God willing, we hope that everything will be resolved by the end of November,” Governor Al Hassane Sall reassured.

In parallel, training and investment initiatives in education are underway to better prepare young people for careers in the oil and gas industry, so that they can directly benefit from the economic spin-offs of the project.