Algeria to launch 2025 bid round

The National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources in Algeria (ALNAFT) will host its bid opening ceremony for its 2024 Bid Round on 17 June this year

Last November's bid round which had offered six onshore blocks drew interest from 41 operators. These blocks are backed by extensive geological and geophysical insights for interested parties to refer to.

Building on the success of the first round, the country is planning to launch its 2025 Bid Round towards the year-end.

According to Mourad Beldjehem, chairman of the Board of Directors of ALNAFT, Algeria's multi-year licensing strategy has been put in place to especially target international oil companies (IOC). 

He was speaking in a webinar hosted in partnership with the African Energy Chamber (AEC) and Wood Mackenzie.

“Algeria’s five-year plan features multiple licensing rounds, focusing on high-potential geological zones, combining greenfield and low-risk brownfield assets to attract a spectrum of industry players. Bid Round 2024 is underway, with 41 companies expressing interest. We received interest from IOCs from all over the world, including North America, Asia and more. We are optimistic that we will award five out of six blocks, at least. The next bid round, we will select the same type of blocks, featuring both exploration and development [opportunities],” said Beldjehem.

“Gas has become particularly important in the world. We have seen an increase in African gas production, specifically Algeria. The country is located close to a large consumer market in Europe and it is a text book example of how you can improve fiscals to attract significant amounts of investments,” said Verner Ayukegba, senior vice president, AEC.

Algeria’s oil and gas production uptick was possible with robust regulatory reforms. Martijn Murphy, principal analyst, Wood Mackenzie, reinforced that the country's new Hydrocarbon Law (2019) allowed project incentives that played a major role in turning around the country's declining production trajectory.

“New fiscal terms are beginning to yield foreign investment. In 2019, the country introduced a new Hydrocarbon Law, which we consider a marked improvement from the 2013 terms. Production so far this year has rebounded. Our outlook excludes contributions from yet-to-find discoveries – which we expect to be made following licenses awarded this year - and unconventionals. Algeria is also starting to look serious about shale gas development, following MoUs signed last year,” he said.

Besides strengthening the local market, this production rebound couldn't have been better timed as Europe is currently looking to its neighbours to meet its growing gas demand. With Algeria seeking to increase annual gas production to 200 billion cubic meters over the next five years, the country is expected to play a much larger role in supporting European demand.