Algerian Minister of State and Minister of Energy, Mines and Renewable Energies, Mohamed Arkab, met on Monday with Norway’s Deputy Minister of Energy, Snorre Eriksen Sifverak, at the ministry’s headquarters in Algiers. The Norwegian delegation included the Kingdom of Norway’s Ambassador to Algeria and senior executives from Equinor. The meeting was also attended by the heads of Algeria’s National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT), the Hydrocarbon Regulatory Authority, and senior ministry officials.
The meeting formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Algerian-Norwegian cooperation in the energy sector. Discussions focused on assessing the existing partnership between Sonatrach and Equinor while exploring opportunities to expand collaboration in hydrocarbon exploration, field development, and oil and gas production.
Both sides praised the strong cooperation between Sonatrach and Equinor, particularly through the successful In Salah and In Amenas projects, which they described as key examples of the longstanding energy partnership between Algeria and Norway. They also reviewed new investment opportunities and examined prospects for expanding cooperation in natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and petrochemical industries.
The talks further addressed cooperation in energy transition and environmental protection, with particular emphasis on reducing methane and carbon dioxide emissions, advancing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, and benefiting from Norway’s expertise in decarbonization and low-emission energy solutions to support sustainable development goals.
The two delegations also welcomed the outcomes of a recent working visit by an Algerian energy sector delegation to Norway, which provided valuable insights into Norwegian expertise in carbon capture and storage, seawater desalination, and governance of the hydrocarbon sector while opening new opportunities for technical and investment cooperation.
During the meeting, Minister Arkab reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to improving the investment climate by offering a transparent and stable regulatory framework under the country’s Hydrocarbon Law. He highlighted the incentives available to international investors, as well as opportunities for cooperation in research, development, training, and technology transfer.
The discussions also covered ways to strengthen institutional cooperation between the two energy ministries, including finalizing consultations on a bilateral memorandum of understanding that would establish a permanent framework for cooperation and knowledge exchange. Both parties also explored joint economic initiatives aimed at fostering stronger partnerships between Algerian and Norwegian companies.
For his part, Deputy Minister Snorre Eriksen Sifverak expressed satisfaction with the current level of cooperation, reaffirming Norway’s and Equinor’s interest in expanding investment and collaboration with Algeria, particularly in energy resource development, emissions reduction, technology exchange, and innovation. He also praised Algeria’s role as a reliable and strategic partner in regional and global energy markets.
