Algeria Reaffirms Strategic Partnership with Mauritania in Energy, Hydrocarbons, and Mining
Algerian Minister of State, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, along with the Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies, Mourad Adjal, held talks on Sunday with Mauritania’s Minister of Energy and Oil, Mohamed Ould Khaled, who is on an official visit to Algeria.
This visit comes within the framework of the renewed momentum characterizing cooperation relations between Algeria and Mauritania, in implementation of the directives of Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, aimed at strengthening African partnerships and enhancing South–South cooperation, particularly in strategic sectors with a direct impact on economic and social development, the Algerian Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Mines said in a statement.
The Mauritanian delegation includes officials from major Mauritanian companies active in the energy sector, such as the Mauritanian Petroleum Company (SMH), the Mauritanian Electricity Company (SOMELEC), and the Mauritanian Refining Company (SOMIR), along with several senior officials from the ministry.
During the expanded meeting that brought together members of the two delegations, the two sides reviewed the results of bilateral cooperation and the prospects for strengthening it, particularly in the fields of energy, hydrocarbons, training, and the exchange of expertise in seawater desalination, in line with the aspirations of both countries to enhance economic integration and achieve shared interests, the statement said.
Arkab affirmed Algeria’s readiness to strengthen its presence as a strategic partner to Mauritania in developing its oil and gas resources, by supporting exploration and production projects and encouraging joint investments, particularly through Sonatrach and its subsidiaries, which are engaged in advanced consultations with their Mauritanian counterpart across the various stages of the value chain, from exploration to transportation, processing, and petroleum services, the statement said.
He also stressed the importance of valorizing mineral resources, particularly phosphate, and strengthening cooperation in the field of fertilizer production, in addition to intensifying training programs and the transfer of technical knowledge for the benefit of Mauritanian professionals through the sector’s training institutes, notably the Algerian Petroleum Institute (IAP) and the Sonatrach Management Academy, thereby consolidating a partnership based on capacity building and the creation of sustainable added value, the source added.
On the other hand, Adjal highlighted the importance of expanding cooperation in the fields of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, as well as strengthening power exchange capacities. He also emphasized the need to explore opportunities for joint investment in renewable energy projects, particularly solar photovoltaic energy, in order to keep pace with energy transitions and enhance energy security in both countries.
He also pointed out Algeria’s readiness, through Sonelgaz, to support Mauritania in developing its electrical infrastructure and to provide technical assistance in engineering studies, project implementation, and network maintenance, in addition to promoting the use of clean energy to support local development.
For his part, Mohamed Ould Khaled affirmed that this visit reflects the strength of the cooperative relations between Algeria and Mauritania, praising Algeria’s leading expertise in hydrocarbons, mining, and energy. He expressed his country’s aspiration to benefit from the Algerian experience, particularly through the development of technical and investment partnerships, as well as the enhancement of training and capacity-building programs, thereby supporting Mauritania’s efforts to develop its natural resources and achieve sustainable development in the interest of both nations, according to the statement.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the two Algerian ministers reiterated Algeria’s commitment to strengthening its fraternal and strategic relations with Mauritania in the fields of energy, hydrocarbons, and mining, and to working together to implement the signed memoranda of understanding and agreements, translating them into tangible projects with economic and developmental impact, thereby supporting energy stability and enhancing regional integration in North Africa and the Sahel region.
