nerAlgeria and Côte d’Ivoire have signed a broad cooperation agreement covering the entire oil and gas value chain, in a move that underscores growing efforts by African energy producers to deepen partnerships and strengthen intra-African technical collaboration.
The agreement, signed on Saturday in Algiers, establishes a framework for cooperation in petroleum and natural gas exploration, production, processing and commercialization, according to details reported by Algeria’s state news agency APS.
Officials from both countries said the accord is designed to open the way for joint projects, knowledge sharing and institutional collaboration across the hydrocarbon sector, while also extending into mining and technical training.
The deal was signed during an official visit to Algeria by Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, who held talks with Algerian Minister of State for Energy, Mines and Renewable Energies Mohamed Arkab.
The two sides said the partnership would create a structured framework for cooperation between public institutions and energy companies in both countries, while helping to build capacity in areas such as technical expertise, workforce development and operational support.
For Côte d’Ivoire, the agreement comes at a pivotal moment for its energy sector as the West African country seeks to position itself as an emerging oil and gas producer after a series of major offshore discoveries.
Since 2021, Côte d’Ivoire has drawn growing international attention following significant hydrocarbon finds at the Baleine and Calao fields, discovered offshore by Italian energy group Eni. The deepwater reserves are estimated to contain more than 2.5 billion barrels of crude oil as well as substantial natural gas volumes, raising expectations of a sharp increase in national output by 2027 and 2028.
The new partnership with Algeria is expected to provide Côte d’Ivoire with access to technical know-how from one of Africa’s longest-established oil and gas producers.
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Algeria has decades of experience in upstream and downstream hydrocarbon operations, and remains a key energy supplier to Europe and other international markets. Its state-led energy model and expertise in gas development, processing and export infrastructure are seen as valuable assets for African countries seeking to build out their own industries.
The accord also reflects Algeria’s broader push to expand its energy diplomacy and export its industrial expertise across the continent.
In February, Algeria signed a similar cooperation framework with Burkina Faso, covering hydrocarbons, mining, electricity and training. That agreement included fuel supply arrangements, support for storage and distribution infrastructure, and exchanges of technical and operational expertise.
Algeria has in recent months stepped up efforts to build strategic economic ties across Africa, particularly in sectors linked to energy security, infrastructure and industrial development.
Its state-owned electricity and gas group, Sonelgaz, recently launched a new subsidiary, Sonelgaz International, tasked with developing projects and partnerships abroad as part of a wider strategy to strengthen the country’s commercial footprint in regional markets.
For Côte d’Ivoire, which is also seeking to expand its role in regional energy supply, the cooperation agreement could help accelerate the development of domestic capacity while supporting longer-term ambitions to monetize new reserves and attract additional investment.
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Analysts say such partnerships are increasingly important as African countries seek to reduce reliance on external expertise and create stronger regional value chains in strategic sectors.
The Algeria-Côte d’Ivoire deal comes at a time when many African governments are looking to translate natural resource discoveries into industrial growth, jobs and improved energy access, rather than simply exporting raw commodities.
By combining Algeria’s long-standing sector experience with Côte d’Ivoire’s emerging production potential, officials hope the partnership will support a more integrated and self-reliant African energy landscape.
