Chaher Boulakhras, President and CEO of the National Electricity and Gas Company of Algeria (Sonelgaz), and Juan Ondo Ndongo, General Manager of Equatorial Guinea’s National Gas Company (Sonagas) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on November 28 to enhance cooperation in the field of gas transmission, distribution, and energy efficiency, according to Africanews.

The signing ceremony took place during the 5th Summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea and was attended by Minister of Energy of Algeria, Mohamed Arkab, and Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea, Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima.

The MoU covers the regulatory framework for the gas sector, the transport and distribution of gas through pipelines, the supply and installation of gas meters and all other areas of the energy sector of mutual interest.

“99% of Algerians have access to electricity and 63% have access to gas. We are actively developing the optimization of the entire gas value chain in a collaborative way” Arkab said.

He added, “We want to work together to collaborate with Equatorial Guinea to share our respective fields of expertise.”

Boulakhras expressed his satisfaction with this initiative saying, “This signature is a major step in the collaboration between our two countries in the energy sector. We are ready to strengthen Equatorial Guinea’s capacities in all the subjects that require it, and, conversely, we are expecting a lot of collaboration so that Equatorial Guinea can share its wide knowledge in the gas sector.”