Algeria has appointed Achraf Benhassine as its new governor to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), replacing Mohamed Hamel, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.
Benhassine, who will take on the new role on January 1, previously served as the country’s national representative, a role he took on in 2014.
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Benhassine also serves as senior adviser to the country’s energy minister and is on the board of the Algerian central bank.
Earlier this month, Hamel was appointed secretary general of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), replacing Russia’s Yury Sentyurin.
Fire at Algeria’s Skikda refinery under control
In another development, the Algerian energy minister said on Tuesday that the fire that broke out in an idle reforming unit undergoing maintenance at Algeria’s Skikda oil refinery has been brought under control with no impact to the plant’s operations.
The incident resulted in injuries to nine workers, the state news agency quoted minister Mohamed Arkab as saying.
