Newer face, older problems
A new energy minister will try to end the stagnation in Algeria's upstream
Algeria's government hopes the appointment of a new energy minister and optimistic assessments of the oil and gas sector by senior officials all point to a change in fortunes in 2017. But there is little sign at present that the aspirations can be converted into expectations. The dismissal of Salah Khebri in June after only a year at the helm of the energy ministry was an acknowledgement of his failure to attract international investment and inspire upstream momentum. Natural gas production is static at around 82bn cubic metres a year and oil output is struggling to stay at 1.1m barrels a day. The appointment of an experienced energy sector professional to replace Khebri provided grounds for
Also in this section
5 December 2025
Mistaken assumptions around an oil bull run that never happened are a warning over the talk of a supply glut
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
