Minister of State and Minister of Hydrocarbons Mohamed Arkab held a meeting with Professor Elias Zerhouni on Saturday, 31 October 2026. Professor Zerhouni serves as the coordinator of the Supreme Council of the National Scientific Diaspora. The two officials discussed opportunities for Algeria to integrate expertise from its international scientific community into the modernization of the national hydrocarbons sector. This consultation took place at the Ministry of Hydrocarbons headquarters to evaluate how diaspora professionals can contribute technical knowledge to domestic energy projects. The meeting represents an effort to align the objectives of the Ministry of Hydrocarbons with the specialized skills held by Algerian scientists residing abroad.
Leveraging Global Scientific Expertise
Mohamed Arkab and Professor Elias Zerhouni centered their discussions on the integration of Algerian experts living abroad into specific technical domains, including research, development, and advanced industrial technologies for the oil and gas industries. These efforts aim to incorporate international knowledge into the domestic framework to enhance operational capabilities within the sector. The meeting focused on involving Algerian experts residing abroad in research, development, and advanced industrial technologies related to the oil and gas industries. By tapping into this global network, the Ministry of Hydrocarbons intends to foster a collaborative environment where high-level scientific research directly informs industrial practices.
Both parties addressed the environmental impact of energy production by evaluating cooperation on the development of technologies designed to reduce methane emissions. The talks identified a transition toward lower carbon footprints as a priority for the hydrocarbons sector, seeking to apply specialized scientific knowledge to mitigate environmental consequences of current extraction and processing methods. Discussions included cooperation on developing technologies to reduce methane emissions and lower the carbon footprint of the hydrocarbons sector. This focus reflects a strategic shift toward integrating sustainability into the core operational roadmap of the ministry.
Seawater desalination emerged as a secondary area for technical collaboration during the meeting. Mohamed Arkab and Professor Elias Zerhouni explored potential pathways for the exchange of expertise in this field, noting that such knowledge could support infrastructure projects requiring advanced water management solutions. The parties discussed exchanging expertise in the field of seawater desalination. This initiative aims to address the technical demands of water-intensive energy operations through the application of advanced scientific methodologies provided by the diaspora.
Local industrial development also formed a core component of the dialogue. The officials emphasized the importance of promoting local content to build a national industry for equipment and supplies. By prioritizing domestic manufacturing, the Ministry of Hydrocarbons intends to reduce dependency on foreign imports for technical components required by the oil and gas sector. The collaborative framework established between Mohamed Arkab and Professor Elias Zerhouni serves as a foundation for future partnerships, ensuring that the Ministry of Hydrocarbons remains aligned with contemporary scientific advancements while strengthening the internal capacity of the Algerian industrial landscape.
