Why China is urgently looking to North Africa as the energy crisis rolls on

AdvertisementChina-Africa relationsChinaDiplomacyWhy China is urgently looking to North Africa as the energy crisis rolls onFrom Algerian oilfields to Moroccan battery factories and Egypt’s industrial base, Beijing may now fast-track projects across the region 4-MIN READ4-MIN ListenJevans NyabiagePublished: 9:00am, 18 Apr 2026The war in Iran and ensuing closure of the Strait of Hormuz has exposed the risks of over-reliance on the Persian Gulf for oil, turning Beijing’s Mediterranean infrastructure plans from long-term goals into urgent strategic necessities.From Algerian oilfields to Moroccan battery factories and Egypt’s industrial base, China might now fast-track these projects to create a Mediterranean hub for a green-energy supply chain, observers said. Beijing aims to create a strategic backup that protects its economy from future energy disruptions. AdvertisementIn Algeria, a major Belt and Road Initiative partner with one of Africa’s biggest Chinese expatriate communities, Chinese state-owned firms manage multibillion-dollar infrastructure and energy portfolios.These include a long-standing production-sharing partnership between Sonatrach and Sinopec, as well as the US$437 million naphtha processing unit at the Arzew refinery in the country’s northwest.AdvertisementUp the coast, the proposed US$4.7 billion El Hamdania megaport in Cherchell, originally developed by China State Construction Engineering and China Harbour, is meant to anchor Beijing’s maritime strategy in the Maghreb.AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x