By Ejekwu Chidiebere
TotalEnergies, jointly with QatarEnergy, has just announced that it has been awarded the “Ahara License” following the “Algeria Bid Round 2024”, launched by The National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT), the first call for tender conducted under the hydrocarbon law No.19-13.
Ahara, an email statement to Energy Window International (Media) said, is a large license covering an area of approximately 14,900 km², located at the intersection of the prolific Berkine and Illizi Basins. TotalEnergies says it will serve as the operator during the Exploration and Appraisal phases of this license with a 24.5% effective interest, the same share as QatarEnergy (24.5%). The national company SONATRACH will retain a majority interest of 51%, in accordance with the Algerian law.
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies expresses delight: “TotalEnergies is delighted that its joint bid with QatarEnergy has led to the award of the Ahara license, allowing us to write a new chapter in our long-lasting partnership with SONATRACH in Exploration in Algeria.”
TotalEnergies states that it is a long-standing player in the Algerian energy sector, present in the country through its various subsidiaries, active in oil and gas exploration and production through its interests in the Tin Fouyé Tabankort and Timimoun gas fields, the Berkine Basin oil fields (Blocks 404a and 208) and liquefied natural gas via supply contracts with Sonatrach. Recalling that in 2023, it produced 51 kboe/d (group share) in Algeria through its interests in the TFT II and Timimoun gas fields, and in the Berkine Basin oil fields (blocks 404a and 208). In the downstream, TotalEnergies Lubrifiants Algérie SPA and TotalEnergies Bitumes Algérie SPA market lubricants and bitumen have been second to none. The Company also noted that the integrated modeling has provided it with effective synergies along various industry activities, with provision yet for a comprehensive offering based on innovation, complementarity, and value creation. Adding that it is committed to supporting economic development by launching new investment programs that will contribute to the country’s development.