German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is looking to Senegal to help European countries cut their dependence on Russian energy. During a joint news conference with Senegalese President Macky Sall, Scholz expressed interest in a gas exploitation project that could bring the first barrels by next year.

Scholz said Germany wants to help Senegal to develop a gas field off the coast of West Africa. According to media reports, BP, the operator of the field, estimates it holds 425 million cubic meters of natural gas.

"We have started exchanging ideas about this, and following these talks we will continue to do so very intensively at the technical level," said the chancellor. Sall said Senegal was "interested in supplying gas to the European market."