ALGIERS – The Preliminary results of the call for tenders Algeria Bid Round 2024, launched by the National Agency for the Development of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT) for investment in the hydrocarbon sector, were announced Tuesday in Algiers, showing that different foreign companies have been awarded exploration licences in five zones in the country’s south.
Chaired by the minister of State, minister of Energy, Mines and Renewable Energy, Mohamed Arkab, the bids were opened and evaluated in the presence of the secretary of State to the minister of Energy for Mines, Karima Tafer, the president of the National Agency for the Development of Hydrocarbon Resources, Mourad Beldjehem, the CEO of Sonatrach Group, Rachid Hachichi, and representatives of the bidding companies.
The seven bids submitted concern five of the six zones proposed in the call for tenders.
The areas concerned are “Ahara” (province of Illizi), “Reggane 2” (province of Adrar), “Zerafa 2” (provinces of Adrar and In-Salah), “Toual” (provinces of Ouargla and Illizi) and “Guern EL Guessa” (provinces of Bechar, Beni Abbes, El Bayadh and Timimoun).
The exploration zone for “EL M’zaid El Kebir” has received no offer.
The consortium of Zangas, Austria, and Filada, Switzerland was awarded the exploration licence for “Toual 2,” for which it was the only bidder, while the exploration licence for “Guern EL Guessa” was awarded to the Chinese company Sinopec (the only bidder).
The exploration licence for “Reggane 2” was awarded to the consortium of ENI, Italy, and PTTEP, Thailand (the only bidder).
The consortium of Qatar Energy and TotalEnergies was awarded the exploration licence for “Ahara” (the only bidder).
Regarding “Zerafa 2,” after evaluation of the bids submitted by the Chinese company ZPEC, the consortium ENI and Equinor (Norway) and TotalEnergies, the exploration licence was awarded to ENI.
The relevant contracts will be signed by 30 July at the latest, depending on the progress of the procedures and negotiations between the awarded companies and Sonatrach.
