On Sunday, 15 February 2026, both the Minister of State, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, Mr. Mohamed Arkab, and the Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies, Dr. Mourad Adjal, received the Minister of Energy and Petroleum of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mr. Mohamed Ould Khaled, who is on an official visit to Algeria. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation including officials from Mauritania’s major energy institutions, such as the Mauritanian Hydrocarbons Company (SMH), Mauritanian Electricity Company (SOMELEC), and Mauritanian Refining Company (SOMIR), alongside several ministry officials.
The meeting took place at the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Mines, in the presence of the Mauritanian Ambassador to Algeria, the CEO of Sonatrach, the Acting Director General of Sonelgaz, and a number of senior officials from both ministries.
This visit is part of the renewed momentum in Algeria-Mauritania cooperation, in line with the directives of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, aimed at consolidating African partnerships and strengthening South–South cooperation, particularly in strategic sectors directly impacting economic and social development.
During the expanded meeting of both delegations, the two sides reviewed the outcomes of bilateral cooperation and discussed ways to enhance it, particularly in energy, hydrocarbons, training, and knowledge exchange in seawater desalination, aligned with the shared goal of fostering economic integration and mutual interests.
In his speech, the Minister of State, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, highlighted Algeria’s readiness to reinforce its role as a strategic partner for Mauritania in developing its oil and gas resources, supporting exploration and production projects, and encouraging joint investments, particularly through Sonatrach and its subsidiaries, which are in advanced consultations with their Mauritanian counterparts across all stages of the value chain, from exploration to transport, refining, and petroleum services.
He also stressed the importance of leveraging mineral resources, especially phosphates, enhancing cooperation in fertilizer production, and intensifying training and knowledge transfer programs for Mauritanian expertise through Algerian training institutes, notably the Algerian Institute of Petroleum (IAP) and the Sonatrach Management Academy, fostering a partnership based on capacity building and sustainable added value creation.
For his part, the Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies, Dr. Mourad Adjal, emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in electricity production, transmission, and distribution, strengthening power exchange capabilities, and exploring opportunities for joint investment in renewable energy projects, particularly photovoltaic solar energy, to align with energy transitions and enhance energy security in both countries.
He also pointed out Algeria’s readiness, through Sonelgaz, to support Mauritania in developing its electrical infrastructure and provide technical assistance in engineering studies, project execution, network maintenance, and the use of clean energy to support local development.
Meanwhile, the Mauritanian Minister of Energy and Petroleum affirmed that this visit reflects the strong brotherly and cooperative relations between Algeria and Mauritania, praising Algeria’s leading expertise in hydrocarbons, mining, and energy. He expressed his country’s interest in benefiting from Algeria’s experience, particularly through the development of technical and investment partnerships and strengthening training and capacity-building programs, contributing to Mauritania’s sustainable natural resource development and shared prosperity for both peoples.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the two Algerian ministers reiterated Algeria’s commitment to enhancing its fraternal and strategic relations with Mauritania in energy, renewable energies, hydrocarbons, and mining, and to jointly implement memoranda of understanding and agreements into tangible projects with economic and developmental impact, supporting energy stability and regional integration in North Africa and the Sahel.