The **NAPEC 2026** event opened on Monday, October 5, in Oran, Algeria, with over 450 exhibitors and 230 speakers. This is the fourteenth edition of the Salon and Conference on Energy and Hydrogen in Africa and the Mediterranean, taking place until October 7 at the Mohamed-Benahmed Convention Center in Oran. The opening ceremony was presided over by Mohamed Arkab, Minister of State and Minister of Hydrocarbons, and Mourad Adjal, Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies. The Algerian Petroleum Institute and Sonatrach, a major Algerian energy company, were among the key participants highlighted at the event. The day before the opening, Mohamed Arkab met with Farid Ghezali, the Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producing Countries Organization (APPO), who traveled to Algeria for the event. Noureddine Daoudi, CEO of Sonatrach, also attended the meeting. According to the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, the discussions focused mainly on training, research, and development in the energy sector. Arkab stated that Algeria was prepared to share its experience in exploring, producing, and processing hydrocarbons. He highlighted the role of the Algerian Petroleum Institute (IAP) in training African officials and the capacity of Sonatrach to assist producing countries. Ghezali expressed gratitude for Algeria’s "constant support" of APPO’s objectives. The two had previously discussed these topics during a visit by Ghezali to Algiers. The talks also addressed the long-term nature of engineering, technical assistance, and maintenance in energy projects, as infrastructure must be operated and maintained for many years after it is built. The discussions included the importance of local content in African oil and gas industries, which refers to the share of projects assigned to companies and employees based on the continent. Arkab emphasized the need for common funding mechanisms to support these efforts. The two officials also provided updates on the African Energy Bank, a financial institution expected to mobilize resources for oil, gas, and energy projects across Africa. Farid Ghezali will remain in Algeria until October 7 to attend the NAPEC conference, where he is scheduled to meet with several officials in the energy sector. The event continues to highlight Algeria’s role in regional energy cooperation and its commitment to supporting African energy development through both technical and financial means.