Sid Ali Betata

Company: Agence Nationale pour la Valorisation des Ressources en Hydrocarbures (Alnaft)
Position: Head

Biography: A former director of mineral exploitation and conservation at the Energy Ministry, Sid Ali Betata was appointed head of Alnaft in November 2005. Alnaft’s role was to take over Sonatrach’s responsibilities for managing the tender process for upstream oil and gas concessions, and the payment of taxes and royalties. Betata’s most difficult task has been finding employees with sufficient expertise to staff the organisation without stripping Sonatrach of its key personnel.

Under Betata, the agency invited international companies to bid for 10 oil licences in 2011. However, only two were awarded leading to concerns over Algeria’s ability to maintain oil output. Betata blamed the lack of interest on the economic crisis and lack of financing, but investors say the terms on offer were unattractive.

Contact: (+213) 2166 5292
Website: www.alnaft.gov.dz