Oil, gas, petrochemicals, Sonatrach, and energy sector developments
On Wednesday, contracts were signed in Algiers for engineering and construction between SONATRACH and the Algerian Fertilizer Company (AFC) on one side, and the Italian company 'Saipem' and the Chinese port engineering company 'CHEC' on the other, as part of the implementation of Phase One of the Integrated Phosphate Project.
The storage of renewable energy through batteries will become a major concern for public authorities and sector operators in the short and medium term, as Algeria seeks to optimize its energy production in the face of the significant growth in domestic needs.
The call for tenders for the study to promote renewable energies off the electrical grid launched by the Ministry of Energy and Renewable Energies, with the opening of bids taking place today, aims to determine a methodology for producing biogas from waste, particularly household waste from major technical landfill centers (CET) in Hamici in Algiers, Hassi Bounif in Oran, and Sidi Haider in Sétif, as stated in the specifications.
Agadez (Niger) - The exploration company (a subsidiary of SONATRACH) has managed, in record time, to complete the final touches before launching the drilling project of the exploratory well 'Kafra Southeast 1' in the Agadez region (northern Niger), which is about 85 km from the southern border of Algeria.
The Minister of State, Minister of Energy, Mohamed Arqab, received a delegation from the Chinese steel group 'Baowu', one of the largest steel producers in the world.
The exploration company (a subsidiary of SONATRACH) has managed, in record time, to complete the final touches before launching the exploratory drilling project 'Kafra Southeast 1' in the Agadez region (northern Niger), which is about 85 km from the southern border of Algeria. This massive and promising project is the first of its kind for an Algerian company in northern Niger, and it is the result of a strategic partnership that the leadership of both countries is keen to implement on the ground with the aim of developing the hydrocarbons sector and enhancing bilateral cooperation in this vital field.
Diesel prices in the United States and Europe surged sharply on Monday following geopolitical repercussions on supplies. U.S. low-sulfur diesel futures rose by 7.4% to settle at $4.19 per gallon at settlement, marking the largest increase since July 13.
The European naphtha market is undergoing rapid restructuring, and Algeria is fully benefiting from it. According to an analysis by the specialized platform Argus Media, the country rose in July 2026 to the rank of the leading exporter of this petroleum product to the European continent, surpassing historical players like Italy, Spain, and the United States. This performance confirms the rise of Algerian energy supply in a tense international context.
In this interview, Boukhalfa Yaici specifies the purpose of the call for tenders from the Ministry of Energy and Renewable Energies regarding the study on the promotion of renewable energies off-grid, discusses the importance of off-grid in the development of renewable energies in Algeria, as well as the issue of integrating renewable energy into the Sonelgaz network.
Brent crude futures rose today, Monday, to $86.03 per barrel. The increase was by $2.48 (3 percent). West Texas Intermediate crude futures also increased to $80.61 per barrel, by $2.43 (3.1 percent). Both benchmark crudes had fallen by more than 7 percent last week.
SLB, formerly Schlumberger, one of the leading companies in the oil services sector, has just delivered the first results of its partnership with Alnaft called EXALT in the offshore sector, aimed at assisting foreign investors in evaluating technical data and thus inviting them to invest in Algeria. Its work has involved reassessing the 2D seismic data collected and thus providing investors with a clearer picture, better visibility on Algeria's offshore potential, and encouraging them to begin offshore exploration in Algeria.
Two days before the closing, the Ministry of Energy and Renewable Energies is awaiting the final offers for its study on off-grid renewables and the valorization of local waste.