The Minister of State, Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, received on Sunday at the ministry’s headquarters the Special Advisor to the President of Namibia and Head of the Upstream Oil Unit, Cornelia Shilunga, who is on a working visit to Algeria. The meeting was attended by the Secretary of State to the Minister of Energy and Mines in charge of Mines, Karima Bakir Tafer, the Namibian Ambassador to Algeria, and officials from both sides.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, consultation, and the exchange of views, particularly in the fields of hydrocarbons and the oil and gas industry. Discussions covered various stages of the value chain, from exploration and production to refining, conversion, gas liquefaction, and transport.
Both parties praised the quality of relations between the two countries, affirming their shared desire to elevate them to a partnership based on concrete projects and executive action programs, thereby enhancing economic integration and sustainable development on the African continent.
The two sides also discussed ways to expand cooperation to include the exchange of expertise in regulation, management, legislation, training, and the preparation of studies related to the oil and gas industry.
In this context, the Minister of State highlighted the new dynamic characterizing Algeria’s relations with fellow African countries, emphasizing Algeria’s commitment to an energy policy based on strengthening South-South partnerships and expanding the presence of the Sonatrach Group on the continental stage, in line with Algeria’s developmental and regional commitments and the instructions of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
He also noted the significant contributions made by Algeria in training African talent through its specialized institutes, particularly the Algerian Petroleum Institute (IAP).
Discussions also focused on Algerian expertise in research and exploration (upstream and downstream), field development, refining, and the production and transport of gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Additionally, regulatory and fiscal aspects were addressed, exploring ways to finalize technical assistance mechanisms, study adopted economic models, and review tax systems to ensure the maximization of public revenues. It was also agreed to establish practical mechanisms to implement cooperation priorities and organize field visits to energy sites.
For her part, the Special Advisor to the President of Namibia expressed her country’s appreciation for Algeria’s sincere willingness to support Namibia, praising the Algerian experience in managing the hydrocarbon sector and describing it as “exemplary.” She also confirmed her country’s desire to benefit from this expertise to develop its oil and gas industry and expand the use of energy and its products to support the national economy, highlighting Namibia’s interest in strengthening partnerships with Algerian companies, led by Sonatrach, to develop the entire hydrocarbon value chain.
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