Progress on port infrastructure works at the Annaba port mineral quay by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) was the focus of a meeting between Minister of State and Minister of Hydrocarbons Mohammed Arkab and the Chinese company’s board chairman, Bai Yinzhan, with whom he also explored cooperation prospects on other ventures, including building a quay at Skikda port dedicated to loading liquefied natural gas (LNG).
During a meeting held the day before yesterday in Algiers, both sides examined ways to strengthen collaboration with the Sonatrach group, particularly regarding the construction of port infrastructure for the Annaba port mineral quay under the integrated phosphate project.
Attended by Sonatrach group CEO Noureddine Daoudi and several sector executives, the talks assessed the status of construction carried out by the Chinese contractor under an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) agreement signed with Sonatrach on August 12, 2026, the Ministry of Hydrocarbons stated in a press release, underscoring the strategic significance of the endeavor.
These facilities hold critical value within the project’s logistics chain. They will handle the reception and loading of enriched phosphate, fertilizers, and related products bound for domestic and international markets, the same source specified.
Arkab accordingly emphasized the strategic importance of the integrated phosphate project for leveraging national resources and advancing processing industries, stressing the need to adhere to contractual deadlines and quality standards while boosting coordination among partners to ensure port facilities are delivered according to established targets.
For his part, the Chinese company’s chairman expressed his firm’s interest in expanding its footprint in Algeria and deepening ties with Sonatrach, pledging to sustain efforts to complete construction and hand over the project within the allotted contractual timeframe.
Cooperation prospects across other sectors were also discussed during the session. These primarily include constructing a quay at Skikda port designed for loading liquefied natural gas (LNG) and equipped to accommodate large-capacity methane tankers, alongside partnership and investment opportunities in industrial projects spanning the entire hydrocarbons value chain and seawater desalination initiatives, according to the Hydrocarbons department. Both parties thus reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing consultations and coordination to broaden areas of cooperation and partnership for mutual benefit.