Across the MSGBC basin, countries are pairing rising hydrocarbon production with aggressive local content policies to ensure domestic participation. These themes will take center stage at MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 this December in Dakar, where governments and investors will assess workforce readiness, regulatory alignment and the region’s long-term competitiveness.

Building a Future-Ready Energy Workforce

Senegal’s latest push combines legislative enforcement with private sector integration, as initiatives like the Dakar conference aim to embed SMEs into the supply chain. Backed by the 2019 Petroleum Code and 2022 Local Content Law, the country is targeting 50% local content by 2030, supported by training and employment mandates.

Speaking during a press conference ahead of last year’s MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power event, Senegal’s Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines Birame Souleye Diop emphasized strengthening local content, saying, “Every project must benefit our citizens first.”

In Mauritania, the introduction of Law No. 2024–045 in September 2025 marked a turning point for a country set to become a major player in the global energy landscape. The framework prioritizes national hiring and supplier development, reinforced by a digital monitoring platform tracking compliance. Workforce transition programs are also shifting skilled labor from mining into oil, gas and emerging green hydrogen industries.

The Gambia is advancing institutional capacity through regulatory reform and leadership changes, including the appointment of Cany Jobe as Director General of the Gambia Petroleum Commission. A new petroleum bill and competitive tendering processes are designed to improve transparency while enabling local firms to participate in upstream and power sector projects.

Meanwhile, Guinea-Conakry is expanding its cross-sector local content framework, applying the 2022 law to oil, gas and power. Investments in hydropower and grid reliability are already enabling SMEs to compete in fabrication and services, while a 22-block licensing round is expected to further stimulate domestic technical capacity and job creation.

Local Content as a Driver of Energy Independence

Local content policies are increasingly linked to energy security goals. Senegal’s gas-to-power strategy, targeting 75% gas in its electricity mix, relies on domestic expertise to execute projects such as Cap des Biches and Sandiara, ensuring value retention while expanding generation capacity.

Mauritania is adopting a similar model, diverting up to 25% of GTA gas to domestic markets by 2027 to power new plants and reduce costs. Coupled with ambitions in green hydrogen and renewables, local participation is becoming central to positioning the country as both an LNG exporter and low-carbon energy hub.

Human Capital at the Heart of MSGBC 2026

Despite progress, challenges remain. Skills gaps in specialized engineering, project management and advanced technologies could slow implementation, particularly as project pipelines expand. Bridging these gaps through education, vocational training and international partnerships will be critical to sustaining momentum.

As such, human capital development will feature prominently at MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026, with dedicated sessions on local content, gas infrastructure and workforce readiness. As the MSGBC region scales production, the ability to develop skilled, locally embedded workforces will define its success as a global energy player.

MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 takes place in Dakar from December 1–3 under the theme ‘MSGBC 2026: Powering Investment. Delivering Prosperity. Executing the Region’s Energy Strategy.’