Alger and Niamey strengthen hydrocarbon ties with new cooperation deals

In a significant step toward deepening bilateral relations, Algeria’s Minister of State for Hydrocarbons, Mohamed Arkab, held a virtual meeting on Sunday with Niger’s Minister of Petroleum, Hamadou Tini, to discuss strategies for boosting cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector.

The discussions, attended by senior officials from both ministries, centered on Sonatrach’s recent initiatives in Niger, particularly at the Kafra oil field in Block Kafra. This follows the signing of an Algeria-Niger hydrocarbon cooperation memorandum on March 24, 2026, during the second session of the Algeria-Niger Joint High Commission for Cooperation, co-chaired by Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb and Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine.

The talks provided an opportunity to assess the progress of infrastructure development and exploration activities at the Kafra field, as well as the coordination between Sonatrach International Production and Exploration Corporation (SIPEX) and Niger’s SONIDEP.

Key priorities highlighted during the meeting included integrating Nigerien companies into energy projects to enhance local content and support economic growth in Niger. The ministers also explored ways to strengthen collaboration in training, technology transfer, and expertise exchange, with plans for joint training programs for engineers and technicians and expanded partnerships between national companies like Sonatrach, SONIDEP, and Naftal in areas such as oil product transport, storage, distribution, and supply chain security.

In a joint statement, the two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to advancing bilateral hydrocarbon cooperation and implementing agreed-upon projects to foster economic development and energy integration between Algeria and Niger.