Algeria’s national oil company Sonatrach and France’s Total are opening a new chapter in their relationship, agreeing to increase co-operation and settle earlier disputes.

"The agreement enables Sonatrach and Total to expand their partnership by progressing new upstream projects, notably with a new contractual framework for the Timimoun project," the companies said in a joint statement.

The much-delayed Timimoun gas scheme is a joint venture between Sonatrach, Total and Spain's Cepsa.