Oil & Gas

Algeria is strategically positioning itself to capitalize on the operational insights gleaned from China's primary gas field, managed by the prominent Chinese oil and gas corporation, Sinopec, situated in the Chongqing region. A delegation led by Rachid Hachichi, the head and general manager of Algeria's energy giant Sonatrach, is currently undertaking a productive visit to China, spanning from June 6 to 11. This delegation, comprising high-level company executives, is focused on strengthening partnerships with Chinese counterparts in energy, digitization, and information technology sectors. A pivotal aspect of their itinerary includes an in-depth exploration of China's preeminent gas field.

During the visit, Sonatrach's CEO engaged in constructive discussions with executives from the China National Oil Corporation (CNPC), alongside touring Sinopec's state-of-the-art data facilities. Memorable highlights of the visit include the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Sonatrach and Sinopec, outlining collaboration across the hydrocarbon value chain. Additionally, the delegation visited the China Park pipeline center, augmenting their understanding of the operational landscape.

An integral component of the visit involved an on-site inspection of the Fuling gas field, China's largest, managed by Sinopec in the Chongqing region. This colossal gas field boasts an impressive annual production capacity of approximately 10 billion cubic meters. Knowledge exchange was a key focus during this inspection, with Sonatrach's delegation delving into Sinopec's technological methodologies and operational strategies.

The meeting between Sonatrach and Sinopec served as an avenue for both parties to explore avenues for deeper collaboration. Sonatrach expressed a keen interest in leveraging Sinopec's expertise and technological prowess in hydrocarbon exploitation. Both entities agreed to explore potential partnership opportunities not only within Algeria and Africa but also on a global scale. Additionally, discussions centered on potential collaborations in manufacturing industrial equipment for hydrocarbon operations within Algeria, underscoring the multifaceted nature of their engagement.