Algiers – On Thursday, September 11, 2025, Rachid Hachichi, President and General Manager of Sonatrach, held a series of bilateral meetings with executives from major global energy companies during the second day of the Gastech 2025 Conference and Exhibition in Milan, Italy, held from September 9 to 12, according to a statement from Sonatrach reported by aps.dz.
The statement detailed that Hachichi, accompanied by senior Sonatrach executives, met with Guido Brusco, Executive Director of Operations at Italy’s Eni. The discussions focused on the progress of joint projects and ways to develop and expand the existing partnership between the two companies. Notably, Sonatrach and Eni signed a memorandum of understanding on July 23, 2025, covering hydrocarbons, energy transition, and renewable energy during the official visit of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to Italy. Additionally, on July 21, 2025, they signed a production-sharing contract for exploration and development in the R’qan field with another partner, stemming from Algeria’s 2024 licensing round, and another similar contract for the Zemoul El Kbar perimeter on July 7, 2025.
The meeting program also included discussions with John Ardill, President of Exploration and New Opportunities at ExxonMobil, where they reviewed the progress of negotiations to define the framework for a new hydrocarbons contract, in line with a principles agreement signed on May 23, 2024.
In another meeting, Sonatrach’s delegation met with Warren Murdoch, General Manager of Occidental Petroleum Corporation (Oxy) in Algeria, discussing advancements in cooperation areas outlined in a principles agreement signed on October 15, 2024.
The delegation also met Alessandro Bernini, CEO of Italy’s Tecnimont, to assess the progress of joint projects, particularly the Hassi R’Mel field enhancement project and the associated petroleum gas processing complex in Ghard El Baguel.
Additionally, Hachichi held a meeting with Lorenzo Simonelli, CEO of Baker Hughes, to follow up on developments in the third phase (second stage) of the Hassi R’Mel field enhancement project.
Sonatrach’s delegation conducted further meetings with representatives from other global companies, including Italy’s Otis, specialized in clean energy, Japan’s JGC and Chiyoda, and the U.S.-based Solar Turbines, discussing prospects for future cooperation and partnerships.
In this context, Hachichi also hosted a delegation from the Norwegian Ministry of Energy, in the presence of Norway’s Ambassador to Algeria, Theresa Loken Gheziel, where both sides exchanged views on opportunities to enhance cooperation between Sonatrach and Norwegian companies.
These meetings align with Sonatrach’s strategy to strengthen existing partnerships and explore new opportunities, reflecting the company’s distinguished reputation among major global energy firms.
It is worth noting that the Gastech Conference and Exhibition, held this year under the theme “Advancing a Sustainable Energy Future,” is one of the world’s leading energy events. Its agenda addresses issues related to natural gas, liquefied natural gas, hydrogen, climate-related technologies, and artificial intelligence. The event provides a platform for key energy and gas industry stakeholders, including ministers, heads of organizations and companies, experts, and technicians, to discuss current challenges and propose sustainable solutions to ensure clean, reliable, and affordable energy supplies
