BP has confirmed that a natural gas leak off the coast of Senegal and Mauritania has been stopped, after it continued for three weeks. The leak, discovered on February 19 at the GTA field, was located at one of four wells. The area, which Greenpeace Africa noted is home to the world’s largest deep-water coral reef, drew criticism from environmental groups.
On Wednesday, BP installed a tree cap, halting the release of gas. The company said the release had stopped visually, but Greenpeace and local fishermen expressed concerns about potential environmental impacts.
BP downplayed the environmental impact, noting the “low rate of release” and that the properties of the gas and condensate indicated minimal harm. However, the company pledged to continue inspections and testing to ensure no further leaks occur.
The GTA field, which began production on December 31, is expected to produce around 2.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually.
