QatarEnergy Secures First Oil Exploration License in Algeria’s Ahara Region

QatarEnergy has officially entered Algeria’s oil exploration market by securing an exploration license in the Ahara region through the “Algeria Bid Round 2024.” In a tripartite agreement with TotalEnergies and Sonatrach, the consortium will evaluate promising subsoil reserves in southern Algeria, marking QatarEnergy’s inaugural venture in the country’s hydrocarbon sector.

QatarEnergy holds a 24.5% stake in the consortium, alongside TotalEnergies (24.5%) and Sonatrach (51%), under exploration and production rights granted by the National Agency for the Development of Hydrocarbon Resources (Alnaft). The Ahara block spans approximately 14,900 km² at the crossroads of the Berkine and Illizi basins—areas renowned for significant fossil fuel deposits.

TotalEnergies will lead the technical exploration phase, drawing on its global experience, while QatarEnergy provides strategic support and financial backing. Sonatrach’s majority participation aligns with Algeria’s legislation on foreign investment, ensuring local oversight and expertise.

In a June 18 statement, Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, expressed delight at entering Algeria’s exploration sector for the first time, calling it a milestone in strengthening North African energy partnerships.

Algeria awarded five licenses in this tender cycle to diversify its international collaborations:

• Ahara (east): QatarEnergy – TotalEnergies – Sonatrach

• Reggane II (Adrar): ENI – PTTEP – Sonatrach

• Zerafa II (Ahnet Gourara): ZPEC – Sonatrach

• Toual II (Berkine): Zangas – Filada – Sonatrach

• Guern El Guessa (Gourara-Timimoun): Sinopec – Sonatrach

  
  

Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab confirmed that final contracts with Sonatrach will be signed imminently, with all agreements expected to be formalized by July 30 under the oversight of Alnaft President Mourad Beldjehem.

With over 90% of its foreign exchange earnings tied to hydrocarbons, Algeria views enhanced international partnerships as essential to modernizing exploration and sustaining economic growth. QatarEnergy’s entry alongside established players like TotalEnergies and Sonatrach underscores a strategic shift in the Maghreb energy landscape. The coming months will reveal the consortium’s ability to unlock Ahara’s full potential and reshape regional energy dynamics.