Energy Sector: Shale and Frontier Blocks Take Center Stage Algeria is accelerating efforts to unlock unconventional and frontier hydrocarbon resources. This week, reports indicated that U.S. majors—including ExxonMobil and Chevron—are in advanced negotiations to access Algeria’s shale gas reserves, following a 2024 memorandum of understanding with Sonatrach. The country’s shale potential is estimated at 707 … Read more
Algeria’s economy saw incremental adjustments this week across energy, regulation, education and public policy. Natural gas growth remains tied to Asian demand, while housing and corporate sectors brace for tighter compliance. Regulatory changes in company law and education policy signal structural shifts. North African geopolitics—particularly Algeria’s moves toward France and tensions with Morocco—continued to influence … Read more
Algeria has recently revised its hydrocarbon laws to draw more foreign investment into its energy sector, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (.gov). The move targets upstream projects including shale gas, a resource that remains largely untapped despite estimated recoverable reserves of 707 trillion cubic feet, the second-largest in Africa after South Africa. The … Read more
Energy and Economic Diversification: Algeria’s Cross-Border Gamble Algeria’s energy sector remains the backbone of its economy, but recent developments suggest a cautious push toward diversification. The Cevital sugar plant in Relizane marks a rare easing of restrictions on agricultural imports and processing. After years of protectionist policies, this move signals a limited opening—though still constrained … Read more
Algeria’s farming sector sits on a paradox: billions of dinars in government and private funds remain untapped while entrepreneurs struggle to access capital for modernisation. The issue is not a lack of money, but a mismatch between rigid banking rules and the reality of agricultural leases. Lenders demand fixed-asset collateral worth 150% of loan values—a … Read more
Week recap Algeria’s economic outlook for 2026 has deteriorated after oil price declines, while fiscal vulnerabilities remain high. Real estate reforms are progressing slowly, education policy is shifting away from French influence, and youth employment figures are stagnant. Sonatrach faces legal scrutiny, and women’s rights initiatives remain largely unenforced. These trends intersect around fiscal pressure, … Read more
Algeria’s state-owned energy giant Sonatrach has approved a $5.4 billion oil exploration and production deal with Midad Energy, a subsidiary of Algeria’s national oil company, according to Arabian Gulf Business Insight | AGBI. The agreement marks one of Algeria’s largest foreign investment ventures in hydrocarbons this year, targeting unconventional oil reserves in the Berkine Basin. … Read more
Algeria’s economic and political landscape shifted this week across hydrocarbons, trade, urban development, and digital regulation. Foreign investment rules in gas expanded. Trade with Tunisia rose 42% in three years. The 2026 Finance Law introduced new tax measures for businesses. Urban infrastructure projects accelerated. Security operations continued in the south. Environmental policies focused on forest … Read more
Algeria’s highest court recently upheld prison sentences for two former prime ministers, Ahmed Ouyahia and Abdelmalek Sellal, in a long-running corruption case tied to Sonatrach, the state-owned energy giant. The verdicts, confirmed in August 2024, mark the latest chapter in President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s anti-graft campaign, which has targeted high-ranking officials and business elites since 2019. … Read more
Algeria’s economic outlook for 2026 is marked by fiscal vulnerabilities tied to oil price declines. The government has introduced measures to diversify revenue, including tax reforms and incentives for startups. Digital transformation and foreign investment in energy and manufacturing are accelerating. Meanwhile, regional instability and South-South cooperation initiatives are reshaping trade dynamics. Entrepreneurs and investors … Read more