Farid Ghazali, Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO), underscored on Monday in Oran the central importance of the gas industry within the global energy landscape. He highlighted Algeria’s strategic role, along with its institutions, in advancing this sector across Africa and the wider region.
During his intervention in the first strategic session, held as part of the 8th AIGS Symposium dedicated to natural gas and hydrogen,Mr. Ghazali reaffirmed Algeria’s longstanding role in the global gas industry, pointing to the extensive infrastructure built over decades. He stressed that these assets now stand as a major advantage for the transformation, valorization, and export of energy resources.
He also praised Algeria’s pioneering role in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) production, recalling the commissioning of the world’s first liquefaction plant in 1964, a historic achievement that established the country as a global reference in the energy sector.
On the subject of natural gas in Africa, the official stressed that it should not be seen merely as a transitional solution, but rather as a cornerstone for industrialization, the stability of power grids, and the development of industrial value chains. He further underlined that gas plays a key role in fostering regional integration through interconnections, pipelines, LNG terminals, and storage facilities.
The same official added that hydrogen represents a major strategic opportunity for the African continent, provided that an integrated ecosystem is established. This system must include renewable energies, appropriate infrastructure, financing mechanisms, and the necessary regulatory frameworks. he also stressed the necessity of making hydrogen a lever for local industrialization, rather than merely a product intended for export.
Regarding the environment, he called for enhancing the performance of the gas industry by reducing gas flaring, controlling methane emissions, and improving energy efficiency through digitalization and low-carbon technologies. He maintained that African gas must be simultaneously competitive and exemplary.
In closing, he urged the strengthening of Pan‑African cooperation to harness the continent’s energy potential as a true driver of prosperity. He stressed that regional integration and the alignment of energy policies are key to accelerating the realization of structural projects and reinforcing the resilience of the sector.
Source: The Algerian Radio
