Omani Upstream Firm Expands into Algeria: What This Means for Investors and Business Growth Opportunities
MUSCAT: Highlighting the expanding global presence of Omani upstream energy companies, Petrogas E&P, the exploration and production division of the diversified Mohammed Al Barwani Group, has secured contracts to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of two significant basins in Algeria.
These agreements further extend Petrogas E&P’s international operations, which already encompass activities in the Netherlands and Egypt, alongside assets in Oman and exploration commitments in the United Kingdom and Denmark.
Under contracts signed with the Algerian state-owned Agency for the Valorisation of Hydrocarbon Resources (Alnaft), Petrogas will conduct geological, geophysical, and reservoir studies in the Touggourt and Berkine basins located in southern Algeria. The agreements, formalized by Alnaft President Samir Bekhti and Petrogas CEO Kingsuk Sen during the North Africa Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (NAPEC 2025) in Oran, cover the Hassi Toumiat and El Borma–Hassi Keskassa perimeters. The results from these studies will guide the design of an investment strategy once the basins’ hydrocarbon potential is confirmed.
Alnaft President Samir Bekhti emphasized that the studies aim to unlock new reserves and improve production in mature fields facing technical challenges, describing the initiative as part of Algeria’s strategy to “optimise every barrel” from its aging basins.
Earlier this year, Petrogas obtained a five-year prequalification certificate from Alnaft, enabling it to participate in forthcoming Algerian bid rounds. CEO Kingsuk Sen reiterated the company’s dedication to “long-term cooperation” with Algeria, focusing on research, production enhancement, and development of mature fields.
Internationally, Petrogas holds a strong position in the Netherlands through its subsidiary Petrogas E&P Netherlands BV, which operates offshore assets including the A15 licence in the Dutch North Sea that delivered first gas in early 2024. The company also maintains production activities in Egypt’s Area A, reflecting its growing footprint across European and African upstream markets.
In Oman, Petrogas’s upstream portfolio spans several key areas: the Rima Small Fields cluster in Block 5, awarded under a 2008 service contract with PDO for boosting output from 18 small southern fields; Block 55 (Kahil Block) in Al Wusta Governorate, secured in 2014 under an EPSA granting full exploration and development rights; and most recently, Block 15. Here, its subsidiary Mazoon Petrogas signed a 2024 agreement with Oman’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals and China’s CNPC to jointly explore and produce oil and gas, marking a new phase of frontier expansion.
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Petrogas E&P’s expanding international presence, particularly in Algeria, signals Omani energy firms’ rising influence on global upstream markets, opening new opportunities for cross-border collaborations and technology exchange. For Omani businesses, this highlights the importance of strategic diversification and innovation in mature fields, while investors should watch for emerging ventures that leverage regional expertise to tap undervalued hydrocarbon assets. Smart entrepreneurs and investors must consider long-term partnerships and technical enhancements as critical drivers for sustainable growth in evolving energy landscapes.
