Arkab Receives Norwegian Deputy Minister of Energy

The Minister of State, Minister of Hydrocarbons, Mohamed Arkab, received this Monday in Algiers the Norwegian Deputy Minister of Energy, Snorre Eriksen Schiøvrak, where they discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and assessed the current state of cooperation between the Sonatrach group and Norway's Equinor. They also reviewed prospects for its promotion in the fields of research, exploration, development, and production of hydrocarbons, according to a statement from the ministry.

During the meeting, which took place in the presence of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Algeria, several officials from the Equinor group, the President of the National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT), Samir Bakhti, and the President of the Hydrocarbon Regulatory Authority (ARH), Amine Remini, alongside officials from the ministry, both sides praised the level of existing cooperation between Sonatrach and Equinor, particularly through the In Salah and In Amenas projects, which embody the success of the Algerian-Norwegian partnership in the hydrocarbon sector.

The meeting also addressed new investment opportunities and the expansion of research, exploration, and oil and gas field development activities, in addition to examining potential cooperation in the fields of natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and petrochemicals.

The discussions also covered prospects for cooperation in the fields of energy transition and environmental protection, particularly projects aimed at reducing methane and carbon dioxide emissions, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, and leveraging advanced Norwegian expertise in decarbonization and the development of low-emission technological solutions, thereby supporting the two countries' efforts to achieve sustainable development.

In this context, both sides lauded the outcomes of the working visit made by a delegation from the sector to Norway, which provided an opportunity to look into the pioneering Norwegian experience in the fields of carbon capture and storage, seawater desalination, and governance and regulation in the hydrocarbon sector. It also contributed to opening new horizons for technical and investment cooperation between the two countries.

Furthermore, both parties touched upon ways to strengthen institutional cooperation between the two ministries, notably by finalizing consultations regarding the draft bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a permanent framework for cooperation and the exchange of expertise, while also addressing several joint economic initiatives aimed at strengthening partnerships between Algerian and Norwegian economic operators, the statement added.

During the meeting, Mr. Arkab reaffirmed Algeria's efforts to improve the investment climate and provide favorable conditions for attracting quality investments. He reviewed the advantages offered by the Hydrocarbon Law and the current regulatory framework in terms of transparency, stability, and incentives directed toward partners and investors, as well as the opportunities available in the fields of research and development, training, and technology transfer.

For his part, Mr. Eriksen Schiøvrak expressed his satisfaction with the level of existing cooperation with Algeria, emphasizing his country's and the Equinor group's desire to expand fields of partnership and investment, particularly in energy resource development, emission reductions, and the exchange of expertise and modern technologies. He also praised Algeria's position as a reliable partner and a pivotal actor in the regional and international energy market.