Brazzaville, Congo – Algerian national Farid Ghezali has been elected as the new Secretary-General of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPA). The election took place during the closing session of the 48th Ministerial Council meeting held in Brazzaville.
According to a statement from the Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mines, Ghezali’s appointment was met with widespread approval. The meeting saw the participation of the Algerian Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, and was presided over by Bruno Jean Richard Itoua, the Congolese Minister of Hydrocarbons and President of the Council for 2025.
The Ministry’s statement described Ghezali’s election as a well-deserved culmination of his extensive 33-year career in the energy and hydrocarbon sector. Ghezali has held several senior positions within Sonatrach, Algeria’s national oil company. These include serving as an advisor to the CEO since March 2020, Vice President in charge of Strategy, Economic Studies, and Corporate Planning between 2017 and 2020, Director of Studies and Planning in the hydrocarbon transportation activity via pipelines, and an executive responsible for the trans-Saharan gas pipeline project.
Ghezali, a chemical engineer specializing in liquefied natural gas from the Algerian Petroleum Institute, brings a wealth of international experience to the role. His expertise spans various areas, including hydrocarbon markets strategic analysis, project management, and international negotiations. He has also contributed to several initiatives within global energy organizations such as OPEC and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.
His extensive background and experience position him well to lead APPA in its mission to promote cooperation and collaboration among African oil-producing nations.
