Algerian Farid Ghezali was elected on Tuesday in Brazzaville (Congo), by majority vote, as the new Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO), according to a statement from the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Mines.
The election took place during the closing session of the 48th APPO Ministerial Council, held in the presence of the Minister of State, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, and chaired by the Minister of Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Congo, Bruno Jean Richard Itoua, who presided over the Council for 2025.
Also attending were the Chairman and CEO of Sonatrach, Noureddine Daoudi, the President of the Hydrocarbons Regulatory Authority (ARH), Amine Remini, Algeria’s ambassador to Congo, and several senior officials from the sector.
The election of Ghezali is described as “a well-deserved recognition of a professional career of more than 33 years in the energy and hydrocarbons sector.” He has held several key positions at Sonatrach, including advisor to the CEO since March 2020, Vice President in charge of strategy, economic studies and institutional planning (2017-2020), Director of studies and planning in hydrocarbon transportation by pipeline, and executive responsible for marketing activities, including the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline project.
The new APPO Secretary General holds a chemical engineering degree from the Algerian Petroleum Institute (IAP), specializing in liquefied natural gas (LNG). He also has extensive international experience in hydrocarbons, strategic market analysis, project management and international negotiations, and has contributed to work within global energy organizations such as OPEC and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
The 48th APPO Ministerial Council session brought together ministers of energy and petroleum from member states, as well as representatives from regional and international organizations and strategic partners in the oil and gas sector.
The agenda focused on strategic and organizational issues, including evaluation of the Secretariat’s activities in 2025, presentation of the 2026 action plan and budget, and ways to strengthen African cooperation in exploration, production and capacity development.
The session also discussed the future of African partnership in the context of global energy transitions, emphasizing the importance of local content development in the oil and gas industry as a key factor for sustainable development and added value in African economies.
Signing of the Brazzaville Agreement on Local Content Development
In this context, Minister Arkab took part in the signing ceremony of the “Brazzaville Agreement on Local Content Development in the Oil and Gas Industry in Africa,” adopted by ministers of APPO member states.
The agreement reflects a collective commitment to strengthen the participation of national talent and companies in energy value chains. It aims to develop effective mechanisms to measure and evaluate local content policies, support African suppliers in delivering high-quality goods and services, facilitate access to financing, technology and expertise for local companies, and promote knowledge transfer and human capacity building.
It also seeks to encourage partnerships between international and local companies on a mutually beneficial basis, harmonize regulatory frameworks on local content, promote research, development and innovation, and reinforce transparency, competence and accountability.
This document represents a call for joint African action in a spirit of cooperation and solidarity, to build a strong and integrated African oil and gas industry that contributes to the prosperity of the continent’s peoples.
In his address, Arkab reaffirmed Algeria’s continued support for the organization’s goals and initiatives to ensure the efficient and equitable use of Africa’s natural resources. He stressed the importance of revitalizing continental cooperation projects, including the African Energy Bank, and strengthening joint financing mechanisms for energy infrastructure projects.
He also called for continuing the organization’s reform process and promoting good governance and transparency, expressing confidence in the new Secretary General’s ability to lead a new stage of development and integration within the organization.
The session coincided with the 4th Conference and Exhibition on Local Content (CECLA 2025), under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou N’Guesso. The event is described as a platform for exchanging expertise and best practices in developing local capacities and enhancing added value in African economies.
APPO was established in 1987 at the initiative of Algeria and several African oil-producing countries. The organization, which currently has 18 member states, serves as an institutional framework aimed at coordinating petroleum policies among its members, strengthening cooperation in exploration, production, refining and technology transfer, and supporting scientific research, training and skills development.
