The 8th symposium of the Algerian Gas Industry Association (AIG) opens today in Oran at the Mohamed-Benahmed Oran Convention Center. It draws top officials and experts from the gas sector, both local and global, to assess the current market landscape and future outlook.
This edition’s core theme—”Natural Gas and Hydrogen: Innovation for a Sustainable and Resilient Industry”—takes center stage in discussions. Organizers highlight natural gas as a proven clean energy source that holds a leading role in the energy transition and security.
Held under the oversight of the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons led by Mohamed Arkab, the event will tackle key gas sector issues. It features Ivory Coast’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum, and Energy, Mamadou Sankafoua Coulibaly, attending as current chair of the ministerial meeting of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO).
Another key figure is Farid Ghezali, secretary-general of the Organization of African Petroleum Producers and an Algerian, who arrived this Sunday in Algiers to consult with energy officials—including the Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies—before heading to El-Bahia (Oran).
The event’s weight stems from natural gas’s ongoing status as a cornerstone of transition energy systems and global mixes, as noted by AIG, a statutory member of the International Gas Union (IGU).
The agenda unfolds across six strategic pillars, spotlighting profound shifts in the gas sector. The first covers “Natural Gas: A Major Player in Energy Security and Global Supply Stability.” The second explores “Energy Transition, Gas Sector Decarbonization, and CO2 Capture and Utilization.”
Hydrogen garners global energy attention as a true clean fuel, with sessions on its “Opportunities, Challenges, and Regional Prospects.” Digital tools and AI in gas operations get prominent billing, alongside “The Role of Maintenance in Energy Optimization and Gas Chain Efficiency,” and “Human Capital Development”—the heartbeat of industry progress, per AIG.
Keynotes and roundtables by world-renowned experts will mix with scientific and technical presentations from researchers, engineers, and gas-energy professionals. Universities join actively after responding to the call for papers. A dedicated zone highlights startups and technical exhibits for natural gas and hydrogen innovations.
Founded in June 1993 by Sonatrach and Sonelgaz, AIG fosters dialogue and knowledge-sharing among gas professionals to advance experience exchange and research. As a statutory IGU member, it holds an executive committee seat, secured when Algeria was elected at the 29th World Gas Congress in Beijing, China, in May 2025.