Jan 1 (Reuters) - The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas

project developed by BP and partners has produced its

first gas from an offshore field in Senegal and Mauritania, the

two countries' energy ministries said.

GTA, a floating facility straddling the maritime border

between Senegal and Mauritania, will produce 2.3 million tonnes

of liquefied natural gas per year in its first phase.

"The opening of the first well ... paves the way for the

start of gas commercialization, which is set to begin very

soon," the ministries said in a statement on Tuesday.

BP and U.S.-listed Kosmo Energy are leading the

development of GTA, which is Senegal's first LNG project.