The Chairman of Algeria’s National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources “ALNAFT”, Samir Bekhti, announced on Saturday the official launch of a digital platform that allows gauging the Interests of oil companies wishing to invest in Algeria, ahead of the upcoming “Algeria Bid Round 2026” tender.
Through this platform, named the “Nomination Process,” operators interested in investing in the hydrocarbon sector in Algeria can select between six to eight exploration blocks that peak their interest from a pre-prepared list of 24 blocks across various regions of the country.
In a press conference, Bekhti noted that this process aims to identify the investors’ interests as part of a proactive approach and better preparation for the upcoming international tender, the “Algeria Bid Round 2026,” which the agency plans to launch during the first half of the year.
This mechanism enables the agency to “design more targeted, attractive, and efficient tenders in the future,” he said, adding that the evaluation of the blocks is based on national priorities, geological potential, and the genuine level of investor interest.
This measure “reflects a shift in the agency’s approach, moving from a one-dimensional perspective to an approach based on listening to partners while fully preserving the State’s sovereignty over its hydrocarbon mining domain,” he said.
The platform demonstrates “Algeria’s commitment to progress through a clear methodology, high levels of transparency and vision, all within a stable legal framework established by the Hydrocarbon Law. It also reflects ALNAFT’s dedication, as a modern and proactive body, to the sustainable valorization of national resources,” Bekhti added.
He highlighted that these efforts aim to increase Algeria’s production capacity in the hydrocarbon sector, in preparation for the next phase, during which global demand for gas is expected to rise, reaching 5,300 billion cubic meters (m³) annually, according to data from the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.
The process will continue through the end of January 2026, after which ALNAFT will evaluate the submissions to determine which exploration blocks will be offered in the upcoming tender.
