Strategic Panel: Navigating the New Era: Strategic Synergies Across Algeria’s Offshore Frontiers and Mature Basins

Moderated by Laura Sima (S&P Global Energy)

Date: 11 May 2026 | Time: 10:25AM - 12:25AM UTC+1

Moderator:

Laura Sima

Director, Upstream Thought Leadership, S&P Global Energy

Mrs. Sima, a Director with Upstream Solutions at S&P Global Energy, brings over 15 years of extensive experience with S&P Global and its heritage companies, with a career spanning advisory and research roles covering the upstream sector and broader dynamics shaping the energy landscape.

Her areas of expertise include strategic shifts in the global oil and gas industry, risks and fiscal analysis, capital and portfolio strategies, M&A activity, IPOs and bond issuance, energy transition and low-carbon energies. A frequent speaker and moderator at high-profile conferences, Mrs. Sima is recognised for her ability to navigate complex discussions on energy transition, financing, market and industry trends.

Mrs. Sima holds an MBA from ESSEC Business School with a specialization in Petroleum Economics and Management from IFP School, both in France. A Romanian native, Mrs. Sima is fluent in both French and English.

Panelists:

Samir Bekhti

President, ALNAFT - National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources

Samir Bekhti is the President of ALNAFT, the regulatory authority overseeing Algeria’s upstream hydrocarbons sector. With 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, he has played a pivotal role in shaping Algeria’s regulatory landscape and structuring major hydrocarbons contracts. Most recently, Mr. Bekhti launched an ambitious and innovative program at ALNAFT to reassess all E&P data, aiming to increase industry knowledge and unlock Algeria's full hydrocarbon potential.

Amine Remini

President, Algerian Hydrocarbon Regulatory Authority

I am an energy sector expert, born on July 4, 1983, and currently serving as President of the Executive Board of the Hydrocarbon Regulatory Authority (ARH), a position I have held since July 30, 2025.

I hold a Master’s degree in Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Economics from the University of Algiers. My academic background is further strengthened by several international certiﬁcations in strategic management in exploration and production (E\&P), economic evaluation of oil and gas projects, petroleum taxation, and international contract negotiation.

With over 15 years of experience in the hydrocarbon sector, I have held progressively senior positions, including Director General of Hydrocarbons at the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Renewable Energies, Director of Hydrocarbon Development, and various strategic roles within the National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT), where I served as Director of Economic Studies and Head of the Economic Evaluation Department.

My areas of expertise span a wide range of topics, including management, strategy, petroleum economics, taxation, ﬁeld development planning, regulation of hydrocarbon activities, petroleum contract negotiation, and gas marketing. I also work on cross-cutting issues such as fertilizers and seawater desalination.

Thierry LE MAUX

Chairman of the Management Board, BEICIP-FRANLAB

Thierry Le Maux is Chairman of the Management Board of Beicip Franlab and heads the Global Solutions division, overseeing subsurface studies for oil and gas exploration and field production and the development of advanced software solutions based on IFPEN technologies. Trained in Petroleum Engineering at Heriot Watt University (UK), he has over 30 years of international experience in reservoir development, fractured reservoirs, and enhanced oil recovery, with projects across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, South America, and Asia. He has been directly involved in numerous subsurface studies and field development projects in Algeria.

Anan Amornprabharwat

Senior Vice President & Regional Manager for Africa, PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP)

Mr. Anan Amornprabharwat is Senior Vice President at PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), currently serving as Regional Manager for Africa. He has over 25 years of experience in the upstream oil and gas sector, covering subsurface disciplines, asset management, and complex international portfolios.

He holds qualifications in Petroleum Engineering and Business Administration, enabling him to integrate technical expertise with strategic and policy-oriented decision making. His professional experience includes reservoir management, subsurface evaluation, development planning, production optimization, and both operated and joint venture asset management.

With his extensive experience in international joint ventures, particularly in upstream projects in Algeria, he works closely with national oil companies, partners, and key stakeholders to bring a strategic perspective that aligns technical expertise with regulatory frameworks, supporting sustainable development and long-term value creation within the host country energy landscape.

Moufdi Chikh

Managing Director EP Algeria & Country Chair, TotalEnergies

Moufdi Zakaria Chikh was appointed Managing Director of TotalEnergies EP Algérie and Country Chair in Algeria in August 2023, bringing over 23 years of extensive experience in the oil and gas sector. He has a proven track record in exploration and production across a range of global locations, specializing in M&A, business development, and asset management.

Mr. Chikh began his career with Anadarko and BP before joining TotalEnergies in 2002. Throughout his tenure, he has held key leadership positions in reservoir engineering and geosciences at TotalEnergies HQ in France. His contributions have been pivotal to significant projects, including the acquisition of the Elk-Antelope gas field in Papua New Guinea and the exploration initiative in Namibia that led to the notable Venus discovery. He has also excelled in managing world-class assets across key affiliates in Nigeria, Congo, and Angola, overseeing projects such as Pazflor, Egina, and N’kossa.

Before his current role in Algeria, Mr. Chikh served as Vice President for Merger & Acquisition, where he successfully negotiated TotalEnergies’ entry into the North Field Expansion LNG Project in Qatar and secured a 20% stake in Adani Green Energy, the largest solar developer globally. His strategic insight also facilitated several high-profile divestment transactions, including the sale of a 50% stake in TotalEnergies Marketing Egypt to ADNOC Distribution and the divestment of TotalEnergies' interest in the Dunga Oil Field in Kazakhstan.

Born in 1978, Mr. Chikh holds a master’s degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from École Spéciale des Travaux Publics, du Bâtiment et de l'Industrie (ESTP) and a master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering and Project Development from École Nationale Supérieure du Pétrole et des Moteurs (ENSPM / IFP School). His educational background complements his extensive professional experience, positioning him as a leader in the industry.

Khaled Saidi

Managing Director - North Africa, SLB

Khaled Saidi is a distinguished professional with over two decades of experience in the global Oil & Gas industry. Beginning his career as a field engineer, he has since excelled in numerous leadership roles, including Drilling & Measurements, Operations Management, Asset Management, Sales and Marketing. Currently, he serves as the Managing Director of SLB in North Africa.

Khaled’s extensive experience spans Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. He has been instrumental in promoting a multicultural approach to developing strategic collaborations, enhancing teamwork, and ensuring continuous service quality and innovative solutions.

He holds a Master of Science in Management for the Oil and Gas industry from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Amal Belkhirat

Executive Managing Director, Baker Hughes

Amal Belkhirat is a senior energy executive with nearly two decades of global leadership experience at Baker Hughes, spanning operations, commercial strategy, and cross-regional business transformation. She began her career in Drilling Services in Algeria and has since built a uniquely multidimensional portfolio across Field Engineering, Applications Engineering, Operations, Sales, and Commercial management, with assignments across MENATI, Sub-Saharan Africa, North America Land, North America Offshore, and global corporate roles.

Recognized for her ability to navigate complex markets and unite diverse teams behind a clear strategic vision, Amal currently serves as Executive Managing Director for North Africa Oilfield Services & Equipment. In this role, she leads end-to-end operational execution, accelerates commercial growth, and forges high-impact partnerships across one of the most strategically significant and high-potential regions in the energy sector. Her leadership is defined by disciplined execution, cultural fluency, and a deep understanding of product lines and regional dynamics—enabling her to consistently deliver performance in volatile environments.

A strong advocate for talent development and inclusive leadership, Amal is committed to mentoring emerging leaders and advancing diversity across the energy value chain. She is widely regarded as a role model for women in energy, demonstrating how executive excellence and family life can coexist with purpose and ambition. Amal is married and the proud mother of an eight-year-old daughter.achievements, she is married and a proud mother of an eight‑year‑old daughter, balancing her executive responsibilities with family life and serving as a role model for women in energy leadership.

Eric Delamaide

General Manager, IFP Technologies

Eric Delamaide is reservoir engineer and EOR expert, currently General Manager of IFP Technologies (Canada) Inc. in Calgary. Eric has a degree in chemical engineering from the School of Mines in Saint Etienne, and a Master in Petroleum Engineering from IFP School, both in France. Eric has been involved in various capacities in close to 100 EOR projects including over 40 polymer floods. He has published over 90 papers on reservoir engineering and EOR and has served on multiple conference technical committees and workshops. He is the former chair of the SPE Distinguished Lecturers Committee and has received numerous awards including SPE Canada Service Award in 2018, the SPE Distinguished Member Award in 2019 and the “a Peer Apart” award from SPE in 2020.

Alvaro Ranero

Managing Director Reggane, Repsol Algeria

Alvaro Ranero is the Managing Director for Groupement Reggane Nord in Algeria for Repsol. GRN is a gas producing asset in the Reggane Basin operated under an association contract with Sonatrach and an international partner, contributing to Algeria's domestic gas supply and export commitments.

Prior to this role, he served as Global Projects & Facilities Director at Repsol E&P. He previously held the position of Mexico Director, where he spearheaded the B29 Project—the first deepwater project undertaken by an International Oil Company (IOC) in Mexico's Salina Basin.

His earlier leadership roles include Vice President for Decommissioning & Investment Management (2018–2020) and Vice President Technical Services & HSE (2015–2018) at Repsol Sinopec Resources UK. Under his leadership the organization was recognized by OGUK with the Excellence in Decommissioning Award. He also served on the Board of Directors for Decom North Sea.

With over 25 years of experience in the international oil and gas industry, Alvaro began his career as a Production Engineer with Anadarko Petroleum. Since joining Repsol in 2005, he has held progressively senior roles across operations, field development, asset management, and project delivery. His extensive international experience spans assignments in the United States, Canada, Libya, Algeria, Venezuela, United Kingdom, Mexico and Spain.

Alvaro holds a BSc in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and an Executive MBA from INSEAD.

Noureddine Boubekeur

Sales and Marketing Manager, SLB

Nourdine Boubekeur is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Slb North Africa Geo Unit in Algiers. He started his career as a wireline field engineer in 1998 before holding various positions as Operations Manager, Business Development Manager, Account Manager, Global Sales Tainer and Business Transformation manager for the old wells division at the wireline HQ. His postings included Algeria, Caspian Region, Italy and SE Asia. He actively participated in deploying new technologies and attended the Cased hole Log Analyst Training in Pau. Nourdine holds an Engineering degree in Instrumentation from the Algerian Petroleum Institute, an MBA from Erasmus University, Holland.

Warren Murdoch

President & General Manager Occidental Algeria, Oxy

Warren Murdoch currently serves as the President & General Manager for Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) in Algeria, a role he has held since 2020. In this capacity, Warren oversees Oxy’s operations and strategic partnerships in Algeria, ensuring alignment with the company's global goals and local commitments. His leadership continues to strengthen Oxy’s position as a major player in Algeria’s oil and gas industry.Initially based in Houston for this role, Warren moved to Algiers in 2024.

Jon Erwin

Country Manager, Pertamina Algeria EP

Pertamina Algeria is one subsidiary of Pertamina International EP and Jon spent 5 years of his experience in Algeria throughout operation and management level.Jon begun his career as field engineer in the first of 10 years carrier with Schlumberger and Baker Hughes. Prior to joining Pertamina Algeria EP, Jon spent 20 years with many largest operators such M&P Paris, Shell, Total, Lundin and Aramco.Jon holds a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering of Bandung Institute of Technology more than 30 years total experience in oil and gas industrial.

Panel 2: Global Analogues in Deepwater Exploration

Date: 12 May 2026 | Time: 12:55PM - 13:55PM UTC+1

Moderator:

Mustapha Meghraoui

Senior Research Scientist and Emeritus Professor, University of Strasbourg

Mustapha MEGHRAOUI (PhD in 1988 at University Paris XI-Orsay) is a senior research scientist and Emeritus Professor at the ITES – CNRS-UMR 7063 and EOST-University of Strasbourg (France). He supervised more than 16 PhD. He has been Principal Investigator in scientific projects in Europe and Mediterrnean (EC funded PALEOSIS ENV4-CT97-0578; SAFE EVG1-2000-22005, RELIEF EVG1-2002-00069, APAME ICA-CT-2002-10024, TRANSFER EC GOCE, FP7- ENV.2013.6.4-3-ASTARTE), and in Africa (UNESCO-IGCP-601, IGCP-659). He was the elected President of the African Seismological Commission (2018 – 2022), Freeman of the city of Chlef (ex-El Asnam, Mw 7.1 earthquake in 1980, Algeria), Merit Medalist of the Italian Ministry of Interior, Honor Medalist of Aristoteles University (Thessaloniki, Greece), Honor Medalist of the Geol. Society of Belgium, and Honor Medalist of the Turkish Geol. Society. He is a founding member of the Algerian Academy of Science and Technology, and author of more than 99 peer-reviewed scientific publications in international journals.

Panelists:

Eric Schmid

Associate Director, Upstream Intelligence, S&P Global Energy

Eric Schmid is Associate Director in the Saharan Africa team of the Commodity Insights group at S&P Global Energy. Eric is primarily responsible for editing and reporting oil and gas related information in north and west African countries for the company’s GEPS publication. Prior to this position he was Sub-Saharan Africa area coordinator for GEPS, focused primarily on Gulf of Guinea countries. A geologist, Eric holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. Before joining IHS Markit (now part of S&P Global) in 2000, he worked as senior geologist for South African mining company Randgold.Eric speaks English, French and German.

Mohamed Arab

Senior Staff Geoscientist, Sonatrach

Mohamed Arab is a Senior Staff Geoscientist at Sonatrach/Exploration, Algeria’s National Oil Company, and a former Head of Department. His current work focuses on the structural and stratigraphy of the northern Algerian complex basins as well as the offshore domain. He also serves as a seasonal lecturer at the Algerian Petroleum Institute in Boumerdès. He holds a Ph.D. in Marine Geosciences from IUEM–UBO (Brest University, in collaboration with IFPEN) and brings more than 30 years of experience in hydrocarbon exploration. His expertise includes play evaluation, petroleum systems modeling, seismic stratigraphy, and the assessment of unconventional resources. He has also contributed to international exploration initiatives, including studies of the eastern Tunisian offshore margin and the Libyan Ghadames and Sirte basins, and has participated in the technical oversight of partnership projects with companies such as BHP Billiton, Amerada Hess, and Shell. He is widely recognized for integrating advanced geoscientific research with applied exploration, supporting Sonatrach’s efforts to evaluate and develop Algeria’s energy resources. Throughout his career, he has been involved in numerous geological and geophysical studies as well as international academic and industry collaborations.

Radia Guellai

Landmark Country Manager, Halliburton

Currently Landmark Country Manager at Halliburton Algeria, Radia is a Computer Science Engineer with more than 25 years of experience in the North Africa region energy Sector. Her professional focus includes digital transformation, advanced technologies, and AI-driven initiatives, as well as leadership of multidisciplinary teams in complex operational contexts.

Dr. Fahad Al Rusheidi

Senior Manager Corporate Technical Excellence and Assurance, Petrogas

Fahad Al Rusheidi is Senior Manager at Petrogas E&P Corporate , leading technical assurance of Petrogas subsidiaries and managing new business development across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the North Sea. He is a strategic, results-oriented oil and gas professional with strong expertise across both the technical and commercial dimensions of upstream new ventures. Fahad brings solid offshore experience from the UK/Europe North Sea, having managed and supported Petrogas’ operated and non-operated portfolio through subsurface evaluation, well planning, and close engagement with partners. He is recognised for identifying value-driven opportunities, managing uncertainty and risk, and delivering clear recommendations that support growth and sound investment decisions.

Yahia Benchabane

Directeur DPG/HSE, Algerian Hydrocarbon Regulatory Authority

Yahia Benchabane is Director of Prevention and HSE Management at the Algerian Hydrocarbons Regulatory Authority (ARH), bringing over 30 years of experience in health, safety, environment, and risk management across the oil and gas industry. His career spans onshore and offshore exploration, drilling, engineering, commissioning, operations, and decommissioning, with leadership roles in Algeria and internationally, including major projects with Sonatrach, BP, Equinor, and Sonangol in Angola.A state-certified mechanical engineer and industrial safety specialist, Mr. Benchabane has extensive expertise in HSE systems implementation, regulatory compliance, audits, incident investigation, emergency management, and environmental protection. He currently chairs the advisory committee responsible for evaluating hazard and environmental protection studies for hydrocarbon activities and has contributed to the development of implementing regulations for Algeria’s Hydrocarbons Law No. 19-13.

Matteo Ciuffardi

Exploration Manager, ENI

Matteo Ciuffardi, geologist as background, graduated in Geology in 2007 at the University of Parma (Italy).Joined Eni in 2008 as sedimentologist of clastic depositional systems.After working 4 years in HQ Milan, I've been assigned to Indonesia for 4 years, from 2012 to 2016, as depositional system specialist working in the Kutei Basin (discovery of Merakes and development of Jangkrik).Moved back to Milan as senior explorationist and assigned from 2018 to 2021 in Angola as Exploration Project Manager for Block 15/06 (discoveries of Agogo and Ndungu)2022 to 2024 Exploration Manager in Cyprus working on the delineation of Cronos discovery2024 today Exploration Manager in Algeria

Sabrine Berkat

Geoscientist, ALNAFT

Berkat Sabrine is a geoscientist at ALNAFT within the Division of Promotion and Valorization of the Hydrocarbon Mining Domain. She is responsible for following and evaluating offshore studies in the Algerian domain and contributes to the EXALT project in collaboration with SLB and ALNAFT, focusing on offshore interpretation and assessment. She has also worked on basin studies and opportunities in Reggane and Touggourt Sud, and contributes to the management and evaluation of hydrocarbon potential in the Berkine Basin.

Panel 3: Deepwater Exploration and Development : A Technical Challenges and Operational Readiness

Moderated by Laura Sima (S&P Global Energy)

Date: 13 May 2026 | Time: 09:10AM - 10:10AM UTC+1

Moderator:

Laura Sima

Director, Upstream Thought Leadership, S&P Global Energy

Panelists:

Mourad Medaouri

Northen Assets Manager, Sonatrach

Mourad Medaouri is an Algerian geoscience expert specializing in oil and Gas exploration with 30 years’ experience in SONATRACH. Where he currently holds the position of Asset Director in charge of Northern Algeria basins and Offshore exploration.He obtained his PhD in Marine Geosciences in 2014 from the European University Institute for the Sea/ University of Western Brittany – Brest-France. He has actively contributed to several studies on Petroleum system modelling surrounding the great Oil and Gas fields Hassi Messaoud, Hassi R’Mel and Berkine, and works on several topics like Mediterranean continental margins, structural geology, salt tectonics and continental margins inversion.Mourad Medaouri has roughly (09) Nine publications to his credit, focusing largely on North African margin geodynamic evolution, often in partnership with researchers from the Université de Bretagne Occidentale. His work generally appears as Autor and co-Autor in specialized geological and geophysical journals such as Marine and Petroleum Geology, Geophysical Journal International, Frontiers in Earth Science and Journal of Geodynamics.

Zabuddin Zawawi

Technical Advisor, Nusantara Explorer

Mohamad Zabuddin bin Mohamad Zawawi is a Technical Advisor at Nusantara Explorer, a Malaysia-based independent exploration company, which he joined in January 2026 following over 34 years with a Malaysian E&P company.Throughout his career, he most recently served as Custodian and Head of the Geophysical Acquisition Department, leading specialised technical and operational teams across the company’s global portfolio. His expertise spans the full geophysical project lifecycle — from survey design, procurement, and contractor selection through to project start-up and on-site operational supervision — across both onshore and offshore environments on four continents.Zabuddin holds a qualification in Geophysics and has completed multiple management and leadership programmes. Notably, he has direct field experience in Algeria, having served as on-site company representative for onshore seismic operations in the early 2000s, overseeing project execution and quality control.At this workshop, he brings a practitioner’s perspective on building operation readiness and lessons from frontier basin exploration.

Yahia Benchabane

Directeur DPG/HSE, Algerian Hydrocarbon Regulatory Authority

Nadir Sennaoui

Head of the Hydrocarbon Data Preservation Department, ALNAFT

Mr. Nadir Sennaoui is Head of the Hydrocarbon Data Preservation Department at ALNAFT. He has over 22 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, including 5 years in onshore field exploration with ENAGEO and 17 years as a Senior Data Engineer at ALNAFT’s National Data Bank Center. His expertise focuses on data management, seismic and technical data preservation, and the digital structuring of hydrocarbon information systems. He has led several large-scale projects involving the indexing, transcription, and vectorization of physical documents, contributing to the transformation of legacy archives into structured and exploitable data to support operational and strategic decision-making.