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Algeria News Portal:Algeria and Egypt have taken a significant step toward deepening their energy partnership by signing a set of strategic agreements by Mohamed Arkab, Algerian Minister of Hydrocarbons, and Karim Badawi, Egyptian Minister of Petroleum. Aimed at developing the Hassi Bir Rkaiz oil field and enhancing cooperation in the marketing of hydrocarbons.

The agreements include a contract to launch the second phase of the Hassi Bir Rkaiz field development project, as well as a memorandum of understanding between Sonatrach and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation. This memorandum establishes a framework for future discussions on the marketing of crude oil and petroleum products, opening new avenues for commercial collaboration between the two countries.The project is being carried out within the framework of an existing partnership between Sonatrach and Thailand’s PTT Exploration and Production. The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract has been awarded to a consortium composed of the Egyptian company Petrojet and the Italian firm Arcad, reflecting a blend of regional and international expertise.

The second phase of the project aims to build a new crude oil processing unit with a production capacity of 31,500 barrels per day. It also includes facilities for treating associated gas and produced water, along with supporting infrastructure. The project is expected to be completed within approximately 39 months. Once operational, it will significantly boost Algeria’s production capacity, improve processing efficiency, and strengthen its position as a reliable energy supplier in global markets.

This initiative builds on the first phase of the field’s development, launched in 2019, which targeted an initial production capacity of around 13,000 barrels per day. Together, both phases reflect Algeria’s broader strategy to expand its hydrocarbon output and optimize resource management through balanced international partnerships.Beyond its technical and economic impact, the agreement highlights the strong and growing ties between Algeria and Egypt. It underscores a shared commitment to enhancing Arab and African cooperation, while also benefiting from recent legal and economic reforms in Algeria that aim to improve transparency and attract foreign investment.

 The widely circulated Nigerian newspaper L’Enquêteur wrote in a feature article titled “Neither Arrogance nor Interference: The Remarkable Diplomatic Lesson Algeria Offers in the Sahel ” that the media interview given by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, on Saturday, May 2, 2026, highlights a constant trait of Algerian diplomacy: engaging with Sahel countries not with arrogance, but with memory, caution, and sense of responsibility.

كبرى صحف #النيجر تختزل الموقف الجزائري 🇩🇿 مع دول الساحل بمقال تحت عنوان : "لا غطرسة ولا تدخل… الدرس الدبلوماسي الرائع الذي تقدمه #الجزائر في الساحل"

"L'Enquêteur" : اللقاء الذي أجراه الرئيس الجزائري عبد المجيد #تبون مع الإعلام الوطني يوم السبت 2 ماي 2026، يؤكد على سمة ثابتة في… pic.twitter.com/meh3oUjFLU

— بوابة الجزائر – Algeria Gate (@algatedz) May 5, 2026

Regarding Mali and Niger, the newspaper noted that the President’s statements deserve to be read far from temporary tensions, as they reflect Algeria’s vision – one that neither seeks to dominate its neibors nor distance itself from them, but rather to support them in achieving stability, dialogue, and development.

Mali: A constructive Call for Dialogue

According to the newspaper, President Tebboune adopted a tone that was both clear and constructive on Mali. When he said the situation in Mali “saddens” Algeria, he was not lecturing but speaking as a concerned neighbor directly affected by instability in a brotherly country. His core message was that deep crises cannot be resolved through force alone. Political transitions, insurgencies, territorial divisions, and internal tensions require a comprehensive national political response.

The article also stressed that by recalling that the 2015 Algiers Agreements were “not an Algerian matter” but a “Malian matter,” Tebboune set the record straight. Algeria did not create Mali’s crisis; rather, it offered mediation at the request of Malians themselves to help rebuild a fractured national fabric. This clarification is particularly important, the paper noted, in a context where diplomatic tensions sometimes lead to distorted narratives. Algeria, it added, does not seek guardianship over Bamako but simply emphasizes that lasting peace cannot be achieved without dialogue among Malians.

Niger-Algeria : Practical and Strategic Cooperation

On Niger, the article described Algeria’s approach as even more constructive. President Tebboune reaffirmed his country’s commitment to building sustainable, balanced, and sovereignty-respecting cooperation with Niamey. The newspaper highlighted the planned power generation project in Niger—expected to be completed within three months—as a concrete example of this pragmatic diplomacy.

This initiative, it noted, goes beyond rhetoric and reflects a genuine partnership in a strategic sector: energy. Such cooperation is particularly significant as Niger seeks to strengthen its energy sovereignty, reduce the vulnerability of its power grid, and diversify its partnerships.

By extending support to Niamey, Algeria demonstrates that a neighbor can act as a strategic partner without imposing dominance. Alongside this energy cooperation, the article concluded, Algeria is also promoting a broader, human-centered vision of regional integration.

ALGIERS – In a significant move to deepen Mediterranean energy ties, the Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Mr. Karim Ibrahim Ali Badawi, commenced an official working visit to Algeria today, Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

The visit comes at the invitation of Algeria’s Minister of State and Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr. Mohamed Arkab, signaling a renewed commitment to synchronizing the energy strategies of two of Africa’s largest hydrocarbon producers.

#Algeria and #Egypt Strengthen Energy Alliance: Ministerial Visit Bolsters Strategic Partnership#Algeriahttps://t.co/PJjNTVXVi7

— Algeria Gate -English (@algatedzEng) May 5, 2026

Minister Badawi arrived at the Presidential VIP Lounge of the Algiers Houari Boumediene International Airport, where he was formally received by Minister Arkab. The Egyptian delegation underscores the operational nature of this visit, featuring top-tier industry leadership including:

Mr. Salah El-Din Abdel Karim: CEO of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC).

Mr. Walid Loutfy: Chairman of PETROJET.

Senior executives and officials from the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum.

According to official statements, the primary objective of this diplomatic mission is to activate and expand the frameworks of joint cooperation. Discussions are expected to focus heavily on:

Strategic Partnerships: Enhancing the existing relationship between Algeria’s national oil company, Sonatrach, and its Egyptian counterparts.

Investment Exploration: Identifying new ventures in upstream and downstream sectors, particularly within the oil and gas industries.

Technical Cooperation: Leveraging the expertise of firms like Petrojet in infrastructure and energy services.

The visit is set to be more than consultative. A series of bilateral agreements are scheduled to be signed during the stay. These accords are designed to solidify the partnership and open new horizons for cooperation in fields of mutual interest, potentially including gas exploration, refining, and petrochemicals.

“This visit represents a pivotal step in aligning the energy visions of Algiers and Cairo. By fostering a collaborative environment for Sonatrach and Egyptian firms, both nations are positioning themselves as a unified, stabilizing force in the regional energy market.”

Source:Algerian Radio