[ecr] 

In a statement to the press following the audience he granted to the Minister of Petroleum of the Republic of Niger, Sahabi Oumarou, Arkab said that “the two parties have agreed to move forward to execute the trans-Saharan gas pipeline project and to hold a ministerial meeting of the concerned three countries as soon as possible. The date and place of this meeting will be set in agreement with Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum.”

The execution of the project has already begun with technical studies, and will continue with meetings of the joint ministerial committee and the technical committee to inquire about the progress rate of the project in accordance with the outlined objectives, he said.

Discussing this meeting with the Nigerian Minister of Petroleum, Arkab indicated having agreed with his counterpart to support the Nigerian oil company (Sonidep S.A) in terms of training executives across the entire hydrocarbon sector chain, from exploration and prospecting to exploitation, production, transport and marketing.

The minister also underlined Algeria's willingness to support Niger in petrochemicals, given its experience in this area, particularly oil refining.[/ecr]