Algeria’s state-owned oil company Sonatrach and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding under the auspices of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO), formalising a strategic partnership focused on research, development, and innovation in Africa’s oil and gas sector.

Signed in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, in the presence of APPO Secretary General Farid Ghezali, the agreement establishes a framework for joint opportunity assessment, expertise sharing, and structured collaboration to support energy security and sustainable development across the continent.

The MoU underscores APPO’s growing role in uniting African producers and reflects a broader shift among national oil companies toward technology, innovation, and knowledge-sharing to enhance competitiveness, reduce costs, and unlock long-term value.

Cooperation will span advanced upstream technologies, including high-definition and 4D seismic, AI-enabled subsurface analysis, real-time reservoir modeling, digital oilfields, enhanced oil recovery, and asset integrity management.

These capabilities aim to improve recovery rates, extend asset life, and maximise returns from existing infrastructure.

Importantly, the partnership integrates energy transition priorities, covering carbon footprint reduction, low-carbon industrial solutions, hydrogen and green technologies, as well as water, waste, and air pollution management—supporting responsible hydrocarbon development aligned with sustainability goals.

The agreement comes at a pivotal moment for both countries. Ghana is seeking to revitalise oil production, advance gas monetisation, and deliver 17 planned oil and gas projects by 2027.

Algeria, one of Africa’s largest producers, is executing a $60 billion, five-year investment plan to sustain production and expand downstream capacity.

Together, Sonatrach and GNPC set a strong precedent for African-led collaboration that supports energy security, economic growth, and sustainable development.

“APPO continues to showcase a commitment to advancing Africa’s hydrocarbon development. This MoU shows that African NOCs are investing in innovation to secure the continent’s energy future. Research and technology are critical to producing oil and gas more efficiently and sustainably, while supporting the broader energy transition. Africa needs oil and gas to develop, and partnerships like this ensure those resources deliver long-term value for our people,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber (AEC). -TradeArabia News Service