QatarEnergy has landed a stake in its first onshore exploration license in Algeria, expanding the group’s upstream footprint in North Africa
The company secured the Ahara block as part of Algeria’s 2025 bid round, marking its first entry into the country’s upstream sector.
“We are delighted to be awarded the Ahara block, which marks our first entry into Algeria’s upstream sector and further and expands our footprint in Africa,” said Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs, and president and CEO of QatarEnergy.
Located in eastern Algeria, at the intersection of the prolific Berkine and Illizi Basins, Ahara covers an area of approximately 14,900 square km.
QatarEnergy will work as part of a consortium, alongside operator TotalEnergies and Algeria’s national state-owned oil company Sonatrach.
TotalEnergies and QatarEnergy will each hold an effective interest of 24.5% during the exploration phase, while Sonatrach will hold 51%.
The results of the competitive bid process were announced by The National Agency for the Valorisation of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT).
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank the Algerian Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energies and ALNAFT on the successful management of this bid round,” said Al-Kaabi.
“We look forward to a successful and collaborative exploration endeavour with the Ministry alongside ALNAFT, Sonatrach and TotalEnergies.”
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