Algerian Radio
The Minister of State, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, Mr. Mohamed Arkab, and the Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, and current President of the African Petroleum Producers' Organization (APPO), Mr. Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement on Saturday in Algiers. Covering the fields of hydrocarbons, mining, and energy, the agreement aims to strengthen the bilateral partnership and develop joint projects across the various stages of the value chain.
In a press statement following the signing ceremony, Mr. Arkab indicated that this agreement constitutes a legal and institutional framework designed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and "open broad prospects for the development of joint projects covering the different stages of the value chain, from research and exploration to refining and petrochemicals, as well as the transport and marketing of petroleum products."
He added that it also includes "training and the transfer of expertise, notably through the Sonatrach group and specialized training institutions, in addition to cooperation in the exploration, exploitation, and transformation of mining resources."
The signing of this agreement took place during the Ivorian minister's working visit to Algeria, running from Saturday to Tuesday.
The meeting was held in the presence of the Secretary of State to the Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, in charge of Mining, Ms. Karima Bakir Tafer; the CEO of the Sonatrach Group, Mr. Nour Eddine Daoudi; the General Manager of the Sonarem Group, Mr. Reda Belhadj; the President of the National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT), Mr. Samir Bekhti; the President of the Hydrocarbon Regulatory Authority (ARH), Mr. Amine Remini; the President of the National Agency for Mining Activities (ANAM), Mr. Mourad Hanifi; and the Director of the Steering Committee of the Geological Survey Agency of Algeria (ASGA), Mr. Karim Mokhtar, alongside executives from both sides.
Mr. Arkab noted that this visit represents an "important opportunity to enhance consultations and discuss ways to develop bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fields of hydrocarbons and mining." He added that this aligns with "the shared will to consolidate African partnerships and strengthen South-South cooperation in strategic sectors, in application of the directives of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune."
The Minister of State also emphasized Algeria's readiness to support Côte d'Ivoire through the transfer of its technical and institutional expertise and the strengthening of trade exchanges, particularly regarding the supply of refined petroleum products to the Ivorian market.
Regarding the mining sector, he stressed the development of cooperation in the prospecting, exploitation, and valorization of natural resources, in order to contribute to creating added value and supporting economic development in both countries.
For his part, the Ivorian minister stated that "this agreement, the fruit of consultations launched in 2024, testifies to the solidity of bilateral relations" between the two nations, specifying that it covers the entire value chain in the mining, petroleum, and energy sectors.
The Ivorian delegation, composed of representatives from several public companies, will visit Sonatrach facilities and specialized structures to examine technical aspects and deepen cooperation, he said. He expressed hope that the two sides would soon reach implementation agreements for priority projects to be completed within reasonable timeframes.
Furthermore, he indicated that his visit also falls within the framework of his participation in the 8th Conference of the Algerian Gas Industry Association (AIG), scheduled to be held in Oran.
