Algeria and Norway strengthen hydrocarbon partnership with new environmental focus
via Algérie3602 min read
Algeria and Norway are advancing their energy cooperation to include a crucial environmental component. Mohamed Arkab, Minister of State, Minister of Hydrocarbons, met with Nina Birgitte Koch, Equinor's Executive Vice President for Africa, on June 9, 2026, in Algiers. Discussions focused on strengthening the bilateral partnership, with a priority on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The meeting, held at the ministry's headquarters, evaluated joint projects between Sonatrach and Equinor and outlined a technological transition towards cleaner production. The two officials praised the historical relations between Sonatrach and Equinor, noting the solid foundation provided by the In Salah and In Amenas gas megaprojects. These sites serve as a model for future investments. The future cooperation between Sonatrach and Equinor will focus on sustainability, including the development of new oil and gas fields, petrochemicals, advanced technologies to drastically reduce methane and CO2 emissions, and pilot carbon capture and storage projects. Norway's expertise in industrial decarbonization, through processes like platform electrification and geological CO2 storage, is sought by Algeria to reduce its energy sector's environmental footprint. Minister Arkab reaffirmed Algeria's commitment to maintaining an attractive and transparent business climate for foreign companies, highlighting the Algerian hydrocarbon law's legal stability, transparency, and tax incentives. Algeria also aims to
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Air Express Algeria, a private Algerian airline specializing in serving oil and gas sites, has been added to the European Union's blacklist, prohibiting it from accessing EU airspace. The decision, published on Tuesday, June 9, stems from "serious safety problems" identified during audits conducted by EU experts. The airline, based at Krim Belkacem Airport in Hassi Messaoud since 2002, offers services including personnel transport, light freight, medical evacuations, and VIP flights. Its fleet, designed for extreme conditions, includes Let L-410 Turbolet aircraft. The EU's safety list aims to exclude carriers that do not meet international safety standards, with this update bringing the total number of banned airlines in European skies to 154. The decision was unanimously adopted by experts from member states in Brussels from May 19 to 21, 2026, following evaluations that revealed deficiencies in compliance with international safety standards, particularly those set by the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO. Other airlines targeted for "serious safety shortcomings" include Air Zimbabwe, Iran Aseman Airlines, Fly Baghdad, and Iraqi Airways.
On June 10, 2026, the Algerian dinar experienced a slight erosion against the euro and pound sterling on the official market, according to the Bank of Algeria's daily quotations. The euro was valued at 154.1451 dinars, up from 154.0071 dinars the previous day, while the pound sterling rose from 178.2227 to 178.5883 dinars. The Swiss franc also saw a slight increase to 167.6065 dinars. In contrast, the US dollar slightly declined from 133.6403 to 133.5572 dinars. These official variations, though small, are significant in Algeria, impacting importers, diaspora families, and students abroad. Meanwhile, the parallel market displayed significantly higher exchange rates. On the morning of June 9, 2026, the euro was trading at 279 dinars for sale and 276 dinars for purchase, the US dollar at 239 dinars for sale and 235 dinars for purchase, and the pound sterling at 300 dinars for sale and 295 dinars for purchase. The Canadian dollar was at 168 dinars for sale and 166 dinars for purchase. The disparity between the official and parallel rates is substantial; for the euro, the difference exceeds 125 dinars per unit. For example, exchanging 1,000 euros on the black market yields approximately 279,000 dinars, compared to about 154,000 dinars at a bank. This trend of a slightly pressured dinar on the official market and significantly higher rates on the parallel market continues, consistent with previous weeks.
Must ReadAlgeria and Chile have reactivated their joint mining cooperation commission, aiming to develop Algeria's underexploited mineral resources. The agreement follows a meeting in Algiers between Mourad Hanifi, Algeria's Minister of Mines and Mining Industry, and Chilean Ambassador Juan Claudio Valenzuela. Chile, a leading global producer of copper and a major holder of lithium reserves, will share its expertise with Algeria. This partnership is part of Algeria's broader strategy to diversify its economy and reduce its reliance on hydrocarbon revenues, positioning the mining sector as a key driver of growth. The collaboration will involve a technical working group to identify joint projects, exchange expert visits, and focus on exploration, exploitation, and valorization of mineral resources. Key areas include expertise exchange in copper and lithium, development of environmentally friendly extraction processes, specialized training for engineers and technicians, and sharing regulatory and legislative experiences. The Chilean ambassador emphasized Santiago's commitment to a mutually beneficial partnership, transferring its extensive mining know-how. Algeria's mining sector is undergoing significant transformation, with a focus on attracting foreign investment and developing local processing of minerals like iron, zinc, lead, phosphate, gold, copper, and rare earths to create high-value products, jobs, and export revenues. The choice of Chile as a partner is strategic due to its lo