Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire have just reached a decisive milestone in their economic cooperation. This Saturday, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Energy and Mines in Algiers, the two countries initialed a major cooperation agreement covering the hydrocarbons and mining sectors, on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO). The agreement was signed by Algeria’s Minister of State and Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, and his Ivorian counterpart, Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly, who is currently serving as chairman of APPO’s Ministerial Council.
According to a statement from the Algerian ministry, the latter is on a working visit to Algeria that will continue until March 31, “at the head of a large delegation composed of officials from the mining, petroleum, and energy sectors, as part of the continuation of prior consultations and exchanges between the two countries, as well as the examination of ways to strengthen and develop bilateral cooperation relations, particularly in the fields of hydrocarbons and mining.”
This agreement, of considerable strategic scope, falls within the framework of “strengthening the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, based on the principles of mutual benefit, complementarity, and economic integration,” and aims to “support sustainable development in both countries in strategic sectors, notably hydrocarbons and mining, and to promote bilateral partnership.” It establishes a structured legal and institutional framework designed to catalyze exchanges of expertise, partnerships between specialized institutions, and the development of joint investment projects covering the entire energy and mining value chain. The statement adds that the visit “also forms part of efforts to consolidate African partnerships and promote South-South cooperation, particularly in strategic sectors with a direct impact on socio-economic development.”
The scope of cooperation is notably broad. The statement specifies that the agreement “covers extensive areas of cooperation, including the development of natural gas projects, notably liquefied natural gas (LNG), strengthening technical capacities for the transport and storage of hydrocarbons, the exchange of expertise in refining and petrochemicals, as well as the promotion of technologies related to petroleum products, in addition to cooperation in the fields of regulation, industrial safety, environmental protection, and regulations governing upstream operations in the gas hydrocarbons sector.”
The mining component provides for enhanced cooperation in geological exploration, the development of mining projects, and the valorization of natural resources to create added value and diversify the economies of both countries. Training and knowledge transfer also occupy a central place in the framework, through joint programs involving specialized institutions from both sides. A joint working group will be established to ensure monitoring and coordination of cooperation activities.
This rapprochement comes at a particularly favorable time. Côte d’Ivoire, the ninth-largest African economy according to IMF projections, has a National Development Plan for 2026–2030 forecasting average growth of 7.2% and investments amounting to 114,838 billion CFA francs, with a strong focus on transforming agricultural and mining resources. For Algeria, this agreement strengthens its position as a continental energy power capable of exporting its industrial expertise to sub-Saharan Africa.
The Ivorian minister will also take part in the eighth symposium of the Algerian Gas Industry Association, scheduled for March 30–31 in Oran, confirming the willingness of both capitals to turn this convergence of interests into concrete and sustainable projects.
+ There are no comments
Add yours