By royal directives, Leila Benali leads the first reform workshop to transform public institutions into joint-stock companies.
The Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, announced the transformation of the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines into a joint-stock company, a step described as the first of its kind in the effective implementation of royal directives regarding the reform of public institutions.
This transformation, which is part of the major royal initiative to restructure the public sector, is considered the first practical action that embodies the state’s vision for a new governance that focuses on efficiency and productivity, according to a governmental source.
According to available information, the decision followed an institutional agreement involving the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the National Agency for the Management of State Contributions, as well as the National Office of Hydrocarbons itself.
The announced objective is to move beyond the traditional management model and establish a new framework that positions the economic entity as a central player in regional development and energy sovereignty. The state will retain the majority on the Board of Directors to ensure overall strategic direction, according to the same source.
The new company will handle natural gas exploration, investment, and storage, with the possibility of opening its capital to finance major projects, without relinquishing sovereign control over its fundamental decisions.
Benali’s initiative is seen as the first actual implementation of a reform that has been a focal point in royal speeches and public discussions; however, it marks the first time these directives have been converted into a direct legal and institutional decision.
Government sources consider this transformation a pivotal moment in the management of national resources and a starting point for a new phase that positions the state as a strategic investor rather than merely an overseer of management.
The initiative is open, the reform has begun, and attention is focused on the potential for this model to expand to other economically oriented public institutions.
