Algerian Farid Ghezali was officially appointed on Wednesday in Brazzaville as the new Secretary-General of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), succeeding Omar Farouk Ibrahim, whose tenure has concluded.
The handover documents were signed by the outgoing Secretary-General and his successor in the presence of the APPO Executive Council President, Kouamé Bienvenu Essé, “as part of an orderly and responsible transition of leadership within the organization,” according to a statement from the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Mines.
On this occasion, Essé underscored that this installation represents “a pivotal milestone in the process of reinforcing APPO’s role in advancing African energy cooperation.” The installation ceremony was chaired by Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, Congo’s Minister of Hydrocarbons and acting president of the organization’s Council for 2025, in the presence of the Algeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Congo, Azeddine Riache, as well as the President of the Hydrocarbons Regulatory Authority (ARH), Amine Remini, representing Algeria at APPO.
Farid Ghezali was elected Secretary-General of APPO during the 48th ordinary session of the organization’s Ministerial Council, held in the Congolese capital.
Ghezali’s election represents “well-deserved recognition of a distinguished professional career spanning more than 33 years in the energy and hydrocarbons sector, during which he has held several senior positions within the Sonatrach group,” the ministry stated.
He has occupied several strategic positions within Sonatrach, notably as advisor to the CEO since March 2020, Vice President in charge of strategy, economic studies, and institutional planning between 2017 and 2020, Director of Studies and Planning in the hydrocarbon pipeline transport division, as well as Executive Manager in the marketing business unit, responsible for the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) project.
The new Secretary General of APPO, who holds a degree in chemical engineering from the Algerian Petroleum Institute (IAP), specializing in natural gas, possesses extensive international experience in various hydrocarbon fields, strategic market analysis, project management, and international negotiations, in addition to his contributions to several projects within global energy organizations such as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
Established in 1987 on the initiative of Algeria and several African oil-producing countries, APPO currently comprises 18 member states. It provides an institutional framework for coordinating petroleum policies among member countries and strengthening cooperation and integration in exploration, production, refining, and technology transfer, while supporting scientific research, training, and skills development.
