Environmental Code

Country / jurisdiction: Senegal · Year: 2023 · Status: In force · Level: National · Type: Voluntary

The Environmental Code contains several measures that affect, or could potentially affect, methane emissions:

Flaring and venting restrictions: The Environmental Code prohibits flaring or venting, except when necessary: ​​(1) for exploration, well testing, and maintenance operations; or (2) in an emergency (Section 133).

Environmental assessment: Any development project, including any hydrocarbon production or transportation project, must undergo a prior environmental assessment and can only proceed after an environmental compliance certificate has been issued (Sections 20, 129, and 139).

Abandonment and site remediation: Upon the cessation of hydrocarbon field operations, the operator must take the necessary measures to safeguard the environment (Article 140). During field operations, the operator must also provide a guarantee for the rehabilitation or restoration of the site, which must be deposited with a financial institution designated by the State (Article 141).

Annual emissions reporting: Certain operators are required to report their annual emissions of air pollutants, including hydrocarbon releases into the atmosphere (Article 165).

Financial mechanisms: The Environmental Code establishes a Special Fund for Environmental Protection (Article 18).

Furthermore, Decree No. 2025-227 implementing certain provisions of Law No. 2023-15 of August 2, 2023, concerning the Environmental Code, provides that an inter-ministerial order must be taken to limit the content of pollutants in gases released into the atmosphere and to set the conditions for the release into the atmosphere of combustion products (Article 139).

Official source: https://primature.sn/publications/lois-et-reglements/code-de-lenvironnement