Minister of State and Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, announced during a session at the National People's Assembly that Sonatrach has achieved 17 new hydrocarbon discoveries using its own resources since the start of the year. During his presentation, he noted that the group's investments rose by 21% in 2026, exceeding $6 billion, with export revenues reaching $37.5 billion by the end of September. The minister highlighted the sector's strategic development plan, focusing on petrochemicals, phosphate projects, and seawater desalination, alongside digital transformation efforts. He also stated that the petroleum tax revenue in the draft finance bill is set at 2,652 billion dinars, based on a reference price of $60 per barrel.