Algeria’s Sonatrach Replaces CEO Rachid Hachichi with Noureddine Daoudi Amid Ongoing Energy Sector Restructuring
Algerian state-owned energy giant Sonatrach has announced a major leadership change, with CEO Rachid Hachichi dismissed after two years in office, according to Algerian public television on Sunday evening.
While the government did not immediately provide reasons for the decision, Hachichi, who assumed the role in October 2023, has been replaced by Noureddine Daoudi. The handover took place during an official ceremony presided over by Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines Mohamed Arkab.
Daoudi, a seasoned executive in Algeria’s hydrocarbons industry, previously served as Chairman of the National Agency for the Development of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT) from April 2020 to August 2023. ALNAFT oversees investment promotion, tender management, and the allocation of exploration and production licenses across the oil and gas sector.
This appointment marks the second leadership change at Sonatrach in recent years. Hachichi had succeeded Toufik Hakkar, who was dismissed in 2023 after nearly four years as CEO.
As Algeria’s largest state-owned enterprise, Sonatrach is central to the country’s economy — hydrocarbons account for roughly 60% of the national budget and over 80% of export revenues.
As of September 2025, hydrocarbon sales revenues reached approximately $31 billion, underscoring the sector’s continued strategic importance.
Daoudi’s appointment is widely viewed as an effort to bolster operational efficiency, attract new investment, and reinforce Algeria’s position as a key energy supplier amid shifting global market dynamics.
