Agreement in Sorfert dispute

After several years of strained relationships between Algeria and its petrochemicals joint venture partners, a deal between Sonatrach and Egypt’s Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) suggests that progress may still be possible. On 27 May, the joint venture partners in the 2m t/yr Sorfert Algérie greenfield nitrogen fertiliser complex, signed an amendment to the shareholders’ agreement which OCI said had agreed “mutually beneficial arrangements, which will allow for the earliest possible start of production and commercial activities of the company”.