ALGIERS, 21 December 2025 (APS) - The Chairman of the National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources "ALNAFT", Samir Bekhti, announced on Saturday, in Algiers, the official launch of a digital platform that allows gauging the Interests of oil companies wishing to invest in Algeria, ahead of the upcoming "Algeria Bid Round 2026" tender.

Through this platform, named the "Nomination Process," operators interested in investing in the hydrocarbon sector in Algeria can select between six and eight exploration blocks that peak their interest from a pre-prepared list of 24 blocks across various regions of the country.

These details were provided by Bekhti during a press conference following an informational day organized by "ALNAFT" for journalists on the agency’s roles and functions.

According to him, this process aims to identify the investors’ interests as part of a proactive approach and better preparation for the upcoming international tender, the "Algeria Bid Round 2026," which the agency plans to launch during the first half of the year.

This mechanism thus enables the agency to "design more targeted, attractive, and efficient tenders in the future," Bekhti emphasized, noting that the evaluation of the blocks is based on national priorities, geological potential, and the genuine level of investor interest.

According to the official, this measure "reflects a shift in the agency’s approach, moving from a one-dimensional perspective to an approach based on listening to partners while fully preserving the State’s sovereignty over its hydrocarbon mining domain."

The platform, accessible through the agency’s official website, "sends a strong message to investors, demonstrating Algeria’s commitment to progress through a clear methodology, high levels of transparency and vision, all within a stable legal framework established by the Hydrocarbon Law. It also reflects ALNAFT’s dedication, as a modern and proactive body, to the sustainable valorization of national resources," added Bekhti.

The process will continue until the end of January 2026, after which ALNAFT will evaluate the submissions to determine the exploration blocks to be offered in the upcoming tender.

According to the official, this step represents "a pivotal stage in promoting investment in Algeria’s upstream sector" and "an important milestone in consolidating trust and transparency."