Algeria Expands Oil Exploration Investment With 2026 Licensing Round

Algeria’s ALNAFT has unveiled the Algeria Bid Round 2026, offering seven exploration blocks to attract foreign investment and raise hydrocarbons output.

The blocks covered by the bid round are located in Ouargla, Illizi, Touggourt and El Bayadh and include both oil and gas assets. Specifically, the perimeters on offer are: Est Bordj Omar Driss I, Illizi Centre I, El M’Zaid Nord, El Borma II, El Hadjira III, El Benoud Est and Touggourt Sud.

Technical evaluation of the bids will cover exploration, development and production optimisation plans. Except for Est Bordj Omar Driss I, bids will also be evaluated on financial criteria that include the bidder’s participation rate in the financing of upstream operations.

Successful bidders will obtain access to the assets through contracts with Sonatrach, either under PSAs or participation agreements, depending on the block.

“The new bidding round will help strengthen global energy security and reinforce Algeria’s role as a regional energy hub,” hydrocarbons minister Mohamed Arkab told Reuters.

Sonatrach operates across Algeria’s domestic oil and gas chain, including exploration, production, pipeline transport, refining and marketing. The company also operates six refineries and two petrochemicals complexes in the country