QatarEnergy has announced that it has been awarded an exploration and production license in Algeria, marking the company’s first entry into the country’s oil and gas exploration sector. The license was granted as part of the 2024 Licensing Round organized by Algeria’s National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT).

The rights pertain to the onshore Ahara block located in eastern Algeria. The license was awarded to a consortium comprising QatarEnergy with a 24.5% working interest, TotalEnergies—which will act as the operator during the exploration phase—with an equal share, and Sonatrach, the Algerian state-owned oil and gas company, holding the majority share of 51%.

Commenting on the achievement, H.E. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and CEO of QatarEnergy, stated that winning the exploration and production rights in the Ahara area represents a strategic milestone and QatarEnergy’s first venture into Algeria’s upstream sector, further expanding its presence in North Africa.

He extended his congratulations and gratitude to Algeria’s Ministry of Energy and Mines and ALNAFT for successfully managing the licensing round, expressing his eagerness to collaborate with Sonatrach and TotalEnergies to ensure the success of this vital exploration project.

The Ahara block is located at the intersection of the prolific Berkine and Illizi basins in eastern Algeria and spans approximately 14,900 square kilometers.