On 5 May 2020 it was announced that Sonatrach signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on upstream with Russian company Lukoil. The MOU will set a frame in which further talks will be held to identify attractive projects in Algeria's hydrocarbon exploration and production. Lukoil has identified West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico as strategic regions where it intends to develop activities. The company sees little prospects for expanding its resource base in Russia. Lukoil is currently active in following African countries: Ghana, Cameroon, Republic of Congo and Nigeria.  This comes three weeks after Sonatrach signed a similar agreement with fellow Russian company Zarubezhneft and Turkish company TPAO. Chevron and ExxonMobil also signed MOU's on upstream lately with Sonatrach who indicates that the revised hydrocarbon law introduced in December 2019 is attracting new companies to Algeria.
Sonatrach signed a MoU with Lukoil, to begin discussions regarding partnership and a possible upstream country entry for the Russian-firm.