Oran, Algeria – On the sidelines of the 12th edition of the North Africa Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (NAPEC 2024), Algeria’s Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, held a series of important meetings with delegations from several leading global energy companies, according to a statement released by the ministry.
Ahead of the official opening of the conference at the “Mohamed Ben Ahmed” Convention Center in Oran on Monday morning, Minister Arkab met with a delegation from the American energy giant ExxonMobil, led by Vice President of Exploration, John Ardill. Their discussions centered around partnership opportunities, ongoing negotiations with Sonatrach (Algeria’s national oil company), and investments in hydrocarbon development, particularly in the upstream oil and gas sectors.
The meeting, attended by senior officials including the head of the National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources, along with the CEOs of Sonatrach and Sonelgaz, also addressed cooperation in knowledge sharing, expertise exchange, and technology transfer between the companies.
Additionally, Minister Arkab met with a delegation from the British company Harbour Energy, led by Vice President for North Africa and the Middle East, Samah Sabry. The discussions focused on potential energy sector collaborations and future development opportunities. Harbour Energy expressed interest in expanding its presence in Algeria, particularly in hydrocarbon exploration and the development of natural gas fields in cooperation with Sonatrach.
Both parties emphasized the vast investment opportunities in Algeria’s oil and gas industries, especially in carbon capture, storage technologies, and reducing carbon footprints, in line with global environmental goals, according to the ministry’s statement.
On the eve of NAPEC 2024, Minister Arkab also held discussions with a delegation from the Norwegian energy company Equinor, accompanied by Norway’s Ambassador to Algeria, Therese Løken Gheziel. The talks explored ways to strengthen cooperation and partnership in hydrocarbons and discussed the ongoing partnership between Equinor and Sonatrach.
Further, the Minister engaged in talks with Cepsa, a Spanish energy company, led by its CEO, Martin Wetselaar. The discussion highlighted the strong and distinguished relationship between Cepsa and Sonatrach, particularly in hydrocarbon development and green hydrogen projects.
In another key meeting, Minister Arkab met with a delegation from the American company Chevron, headed by Vice President for International Exploration, Liz Schwarze. The discussions revolved around the ongoing cooperation between Chevron and Sonatrach, especially after the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement outlines the foundational principles for future work, including the development of hydrocarbon resources in the Ahnet and Berkine basins.
Both parties also explored other areas of collaboration, including technology transfer, knowledge exchange, and the advancement of modern exploration techniques, with a particular focus on drilling and hydrocarbon development, as highlighted in the ministry’s statement.
For more information on NAPEC 2024 and updates on Algeria’s energy sector, visit DZWATCH.DZ.
Author: nor-eleslam
