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“The sector is working, in the medium term, to carry out several projects”
Mohamed Arkab at the National People’s Assembly (APN):
The Minister of State, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, affirmed, the day before yesterday, Saturday in Algiers, that the sector is working, in the medium term, on the realization of several projects as part of the implementation of the economic recovery plan decided by the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, with a view to increasing national hydrocarbon reserves and strengthening production capacities. Through, he said, the development of hydrocarbon and mining activities, thus allowing the creation of jobs and the diversification of the national economy.
Welcoming, in passing, the new investment climate, supported by a modern and flexible regulatory framework.
Speaking before the Finance and Budget Committee of the National People’s Assembly (APN), chaired by Mohammed Ben Hachem, as part of the examination of the provisions of the Finance Bill (PLF) for the 2026 financial year, the minister reported on a new call for tenders for hydrocarbon exploration. The National Agency for the Development of Hydrocarbon Resources (Alnaft) intends to launch, at the beginning of 2026, a new call for tenders for hydrocarbon exploration, following the success of the international call for competition ”Algeria Bid Round 2024”, the first under the new law on hydrocarbons, which resulted in the signing of five (5) contracts with large companies,” he indicated. Stating that the call for tenders which will be launched is part of the strengthening of foreign partnerships in the fields of exploration and valorization of national hydrocarbon resources, the minister underlined Algeria’s desire to realize promising projects to strengthen the attractiveness of the sector, contribute to the diversification of the economy and support development.
Highlighting the capital importance of refining in increasing the conversion rate of primary hydrocarbon production to 50% in the medium term, compared to 32% currently.
Referring to the mining sector, the minister said that efforts were focused on the realization of major projects contributing to the diversification of the national economy, the reduction of the import bill and the increase in exports.
Citing the Gara Djebilet iron mine project in Tindouf, the integrated phosphate project in the wilayas of Tébessa and Souk Ahras, and the zinc-lead project of Oued Amizour-Tala Hamza (Béjaïa), currently being implemented in accordance with established programs and in cooperation with foreign partners, in addition, he continued, the new factories which should soon enter the production phase. production and development, in particular those dedicated to dolomite, barite and diatomite, aiming not only to satisfy local demand, but also to support the national research and exploration program, which includes 26 projects spread over 17 wilayas, with the objective of extending the national geological map and increasing reserves.
Stressing, in this regard, that the production of iron, calcium carbonate, barite, dolomite, feldspars and gravels has increased thanks to the new factories of El Khroub (Constantine), Oggaz (Mascara), Aïn Barbar (Annaba) and Hammam Boughrara (Tlemcen).
Returning to Algeria’s commitments in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the minister underlined the continuation of efforts to reduce the carbon footprint in the aviation sector, mentioning the launch of a study aimed at developing the local production of a sustainable aviation fuel according to international standards. Finally, with regard to the marketed production of hydrocarbons, the minister noted stability at the end of last September, compared to the same period of 2024, standing at around 128 million tonnes of oil equivalent (TOE), supported by the increase in crude oil production.
At the same time, added Mohamed Arkab, local consumption of petroleum products has recorded an increase since the start of the current year, compared to the same period of 2024, with an increase in the consumption of diesel, gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Rabah Mokhtari