ALGIERS-The Minister of State, Minister of Energy, Mines and Renewable Energy, Mohamed Arkab, affirmed on Tuesday, in Algiers, Algeria’s firm commitment to supporting African countries in the field of hydrocarbons and the oil and gas industry, by sharing its experience of more than 60 years, particularly through its pioneering institutes in the field, such as the Algerian Petroleum Institute (IAP).
Speaking at the 2nd meeting of the Forum of Research, Innovation and Development Centers of member countries of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), Arkab emphasized that Algeria is working to strengthen cooperation and partnerships with African countries, particularly in the energy sector, as part of a proactive policy promoting common growth and consolidating ties between African peoples.
The Minister of State emphasized that the exchange of expertise and experiences between the organization’s members constitutes the most effective means of achieving “an African industrial renaissance” in the energy field, affirming that this forum of research centers could serve as a nucleus for launching joint research and development programs, which could benefit from the support of the new African Energy Bank, an innovative financing tool designed to support technological projects.
The minister also underscored that Sonatrach, as a pioneering national company, places innovation, research and development at the heart of its strategic vision, adding that this strategy has allowed, over the past three (3) years, the registration of nearly 30 patents, compared to only one in 2020, in addition to launching about 40 research projects, of which 70% are carried out as part of national and international partnerships.
The company has also signed framework agreements with seven (7) Algerian universities to establish mixed research laboratories.
For his part, the Secretary General of APPO, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim praised Algeria’s “major” role in the creation of the organization in 1987, specifying that Algerian officials had carried out “intensive tours” at the time to convince their counterparts on the continent to create this continental framework, reaffirming the continuation of Algeria’s support to the organization at all levels.
