Algeria and Niger strengthen hydrocarbon ties with new cooperation push

Algeria’s Minister of State for Hydrocarbons, Mohamed Arkab, and Niger’s Minister of Petroleum, Hamadou Tini, held a videoconference meeting on Sunday to discuss deepening bilateral cooperation in the hydrocarbons sector, according to an official statement.

The talks, which included senior officials from both ministries, reviewed recent activities by Sonatrach in Niger, particularly at the Kafra block oil field. This follows the signing of an Algerian-Nigerien memorandum of understanding on hydrocarbons on March 24, 2026, on the sidelines of the second session of the Joint High Commission for Cooperation, co-chaired by Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb and his Nigerien counterpart Ali Lamine Zeine.

The discussions assessed progress on the development and exploration of the Kafra block, as well as coordination between Sonatrach—through its subsidiary Sonatrach International Production and Exploration Corporation (SIPEX)—and Niger’s national oil company SONIDEP.

Both sides stressed the importance of involving Nigerien companies and firms in energy projects to promote local content and support Niger’s economic development.

The ministers also explored ways to enhance cooperation in training, technology transfer, and expertise exchange. This includes organizing training programs for executives and technicians, and developing partnerships between national companies such as Sonatrach, SONIDEP, and Naftal, particularly in transport, storage, distribution, and securing supply chains for petroleum products.

At the end of the meeting, both ministers reaffirmed their joint commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the hydrocarbons sector and to implement agreed-upon projects, aiming to boost economic development and promote energy integration between the two countries.