The Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, ordered Sunday holding national sessions dedicated to energy and hydrocarbons. The directive was issued while he chaired a Council of Ministers meeting, as per the council statement.
After listening to a presentation on measures to meet domestic demand for petroleum products over the short and medium term, the President of the Republic said that these sessions aim to “update data and set priorities for production and export.” President Tebboune also commended Algeria’s transition, for the first time since independence, from an importer to an exporter of locally refined gasoline. Additionally, he assigned the Prime Minister to initiate talks with Mauritania to establish Naftal service stations on Mauritanian territory.
President Tebboune also assigned the PM to develop a plan for a national policy to organize and monitor the consumption of petroleum derivatives, with a view to increasing the capacity of the strategic energy reserves.
President Tebboune ordered preparations for launching prepaid fuel cards, especially in border regions.
He stressed the need to redouble efforts to complete the Hassi Messaoud refinery project to meet domestic demand for all petroleum products for consumption and ramp up exports, while reinforcing Naftal’s mandate as the sole importer and producer of raw materials and oil derivatives, excluding other companies and importers, which will become Naftal’s primary clients for marketing its products in Algeria.
The President of the Republic further emphasized that Algeria must “make greater progress, regardless of circumstances, in the tire manufacturing industry,” instructing the Minister of Industry to prepare a market study for this product “as soon as possible.” Pending progress on this objective, the Council of Ministers approved the import of 500,000 tire units for trucks, buses and private vehicles, the statement said.
