Member Corner
Doha, Qatar | 30 April 2026 — H.E. Dr Philip Mshelbila, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mohamed Babana, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to the State of Qatar. Discussions highlighted Mauritania’s growing role as an emerging natural gas producer, strategically positioned as a bridge between North and Sub-Saharan Africa and between Atlantic energy routes and global markets. Attention was given to the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG project, jointly developed offshore Mauritania and Senegal, another GECF Observer Member, as a landmark example of cross-border African energy cooperation. The project exported its first LNG cargo in April 2025. The two sides also exchanged views on opportunities to further enhance cooperation within the GECF’s institutional framework, including through technical dialogue, knowledge exchange, and continued engagement in support of natural gas development and energy security. The Secretary General expressed his willingness to visit the Islamic Republic of Mauritania in the near future and to further advance cooperation between Mauritania and the GECF. The meeting concluded on a positive note, reflecting a shared appreciation for the constructive engagement and the steady progress achieved in advancing cooperation between the GECF and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.