ALGIERS, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Algerian-Tunisian Energy Cooperation Committee is due to meet on Feb. 26-27 in Tunis to discuss enhancing energy cooperation, the Algerian Energy Ministry said Thursday.
Preceded by a meeting of experts, the committee will be co-chaired by the Tunisian Energy Minister Khaled Kaddour and Algerian counterpart Mustapha Guitouni, the ministry said in a statement.
The progress and development of the ongoing projects and contracts, as well as future cooperation opportunities, will be on the agenda of this meeting, it said.
At the last committee meeting held in 2017 in Algiers, the two parties agreed to further optimize operating capacity of electricity interconnections between the two countries, examine the possibility of increasing the energy transit line and expanding electricity trade, as well as exchange expertise in supplying remote and border areas with gas and electricity.
The committee noted with satisfaction the proper functioning of the electrical interconnection lines following the commissioning in 2014 of the 400 KV line linking Cheffia in Algeria to Djendouba in Tunisia.
In addition to strengthening the electrical interconnection, Algeria and Tunisia have also cooperated in the field of hydrocarbons.
Algerian energy giant Sonatrach and the Tunisian National Oil Company established in 2003 a joint venture called "Numhyd," which is in charge of the exploration and production of oil and gas in both countries.