The fuel sector has achieved significant results in recent years – New Algeria

In his speech during a meeting that brought together officials of the energy and renewable energies sector, organized under the slogan “For a distinguished public service,” Arkab explained that “the hydrocarbons sector has achieved significant results in recent years in the areas of exploration, production and conversion, thanks to rational policy.” to the President of the RepublicAbdelmadjid Tebboune, who made energy security and sovereignty over national resources one of his strategic priorities.

In this context, the Minister of State stressed the importance of “encouraging investment, localizing technology, and developing the local industry for oil equipment and supplies, while strengthening effective partnerships with national and foreign institutions,” stressing at the same time “the pivotal role played by digitization in modernizing the sector and improving governance, as it is an essential tool for transparency, accuracy, and speed of processing transactions.”

Regarding the mining sector, the Minister explained that the new vision is based on “rational and sustainable” exploitation of wealth through broad geological investigation, expanding the investment base, and developing national value chains, recalling that the new law regulating mining activities enshrines the principles of transparency, efficiency, and simplification of procedures, and opens the way for “balanced” partnerships that guarantee the transfer of technology, training, and valorization of resources.

Arkab also touched on the seawater desalination file, which has become a “priority” file within the tasks of his ministerial department, given its strategic role in achieving water security and accompanying industrial and agricultural development, stressing the endeavor to localize the desalination equipment industry and develop national capabilities in this field in partnership with specialized national and international institutions.

Speaking about the restructuring of the energy and mining sector following the recent government reshuffle, Mr. Arkab indicated the completion of the preparation of new regulatory texts related to both ministries (hydrocarbons and mines on the one hand, and energy and renewable energies on the other hand), “which will be published soon, in a way that ensures clarity of tasks and precision of integration between the central and local bodies and the public institutions affiliated with them.”

In this context, he stressed that the new organization of the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Mines is based on the principle of specialization and efficiency, highlighting that managing the hydrocarbons sector, with its technical, financial, commercial and geopolitical complexities, requires high experience and the ability to keep pace with global transformations in oil and gas markets, in addition to valuing resources locally through refining, petrochemistry, mining conversion and logistical services.

The Minister of State added that the mining sector is experiencing a phase of “qualitative advancement,” which requires specialized governance capable of structuring activities, ensuring the attraction of investments, framing the sustainable exploitation of resources, and enhancing the integration of Algeria into global value chains for strategic raw materials.

Speaking about field tasks, the Minister of State pointed out that the tasks and functions that fall within the jurisdiction of his ministerial department will continue to be taken care of by the interests of the energy and mines directorates across the states, in accordance with the directives contained in the joint ministerial circular that was circulated.

Among the most important of these tasks is following up on the implementation of legislation and regulations related to fuel activities, storage, transportation and distribution of petroleum products, monitoring the quality of services and ensuring the regular supply of petroleum products, following up on mining research and exploitation activities and geological programmes, monitoring industrial safety and preventing major risks, as well as following up on compliance with technical and regulatory standards in the field of fuel transport, Arkab adds.

He added that the state directorates of energy and mines “remain the mainstay for implementing public policies, and ensuring the strict application of legislation and regulations in the areas of storage, distribution, industrial safety, and mining projects.”

Arkab, by the way, called on officials to accelerate the pace of achievement and intensify coordination between state directorates and major institutions such as Sonatrach, Sonelgaz and SONARAM, with the aim of implementing public policies, enhancing the effectiveness of performance and ensuring better service to citizens and economic institutions.

It is noteworthy that this meeting took place in the presence of the Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies, Murad Ajal, and the Secretary of State to the Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, in charge of mines, Karima Bakir Tafer.

This meeting aims to evaluate the performance of the energy and renewable energies sector, and draw up a roadmap that defines the priorities for the next stage, in line with the state’s strategic directions and aspirations towards sustainable energy security and comprehensive economic development.