BY: Hana Saada
Oran, Algeria – January 19, 2024- Algeria’s national oil and gas company, Sonatrach, is strategically reinforcing its presence across the African continent. Following its earlier announcement of returning to Libya at the beginning of this year, marked by the extension of exploration periods in the Ghadamès Basin, Sonatrach is now poised to revitalize its operations in Niger.
Sonatrach’s CEO, Rachid Hachichi, explained during a work and inspection visit to Oran, “The group closely monitors all opportunities in the international energy market and explores possibilities for expanding its scope through new projects and investments, particularly in Africa, where new markets are emerging.”
Highlighting Sonatrach’s recent comeback in the Libyan market, Hachichi stated, “In the coming period, we will resume work in Niger.”
The exact timeline for Sonatrach’s return to Niger remains unspecified at this stage. Hachichi emphasized that Sonatrach is currently active in South America and Europe, underscoring the company’s global reach.
It is worth recalling that in February 2022, Sonatrach signed an updated hydrocarbon production sharing contract for the Kafra block in Niger. This contract, signed in Niamey, aimed to reassess the hydrocarbon potential of the Kafra block, following the discovery of oil during exploration drilling.
The company revealed that the initial exploration well, KFR-1, drilled in 2018, not only discovered oil but also identified reservoirs with heavy oil (density 0.99), amounting to 168 million barrels in place (P2). Subsequently, the second well, KFRN-1, drilled in 2019, uncovered 400 million barrels of highly paraffinic oil (Waxy Oil) with a density of 0.88 to 15.56.
Sonatrach’s updated oil volumes, after the second drilling, stand at approximately 100 million barrels in place (2P). The subsidiary Sonatrach International (SIPEX BVI), operating upstream activities in multiple African countries (Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mali, Niger) and in Latin America (Peru), plays a pivotal role as an investor and/or operator in various oil and gas projects.
Sonatrach’s return to Niger aligns with its broader strategy of expanding its footprint in key African markets, contributing to the country’s efforts in promoting energy cooperation and leveraging its expertise in the hydrocarbon sector. The company’s renewed engagement in Niger signals positive prospects for both Sonatrach and the Nigerien energy landscape.
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