Akwa Group, a major Moroccan player in energy and petroleum distribution, has begun constructing a new oil storage and processing facility in Bargny-Sendou, located about 30 kilometers from Dakar, Senegal’s capital, according to North Africa Post.
The project is a strategic investment that includes both fuel storage and a natural gas processing plant.
It is aimed at strengthening fuel distribution networks and bolstering energy security in Senegal—a country still grappling with energy access challenges despite recent resource windfalls.
While financial details remain undisclosed, the facility marks Akwa Group’s growing ambition to expand its downstream petroleum operations across West Africa.
Senegal’s new energy status and ongoing challenges
Senegal officially joined the ranks of oil-exporting nations in 2024 with the launch of the Sangomar offshore oil field, operated by Woodside Energy of Australia.
Early in 2025, the country also began exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) field, a binational project with Mauritania, operated by BP.
However, even as Senegal begins to benefit from these new energy revenues, many local communities still lack reliable access to energy.
Analysts see Akwa Group’s new project as a vital step toward resolving fuel supply bottlenecks and supporting the country’s broader energy infrastructure.
About Akwa Group
Founded in 1932, Akwa Group is a privately held Moroccan conglomerate led by the Akhannouch and Wakrim families.
Through its flagship brand, Afriquia, the company is a market leader in Morocco’s fuel importation, storage, and distribution sectors.
Akwa has played a central role in Morocco’s energy sector for decades, but it has also been at the center of political and economic controversies.
In 2018, the company faced a consumer boycott over rising prices and political backlash against its CEO, Aziz Akhannouch, who is also Morocco’s current prime minister** and a close confidant of King Mohammed VI.
More recently, in 2023, Akwa was caught in a political firestorm during Morocco’s fuel supply crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Opposition parties demanded an investigation into alleged profiteering from Russian diesel imports.
However, probes later revealed the company had not benefited unfairly due to international payment restrictions tied to Western sanctions.
Akwa’s regional expansion
Akwa Group’s influence has expanded beyond Moroccan borders in recent years.
In a significant move, the company acquired TotalEnergies’ fuel distribution business in Mauritania for a reported $185 million.
The move, many believe, signals its broader ambition to become a regional leader in Africa’s downstream oil and gas market.
The Bargny-Sendou project in Senegal is the latest step in that strategy.
