By: Hana Saada
ALGIERS– The CEO of the Sonatrach group, Toufik Hakkar, announced, on Tuesday in Oran, that Algeria plans to market no less than 100 billion cubic m3 of natural gas per year over the next five years.
In a speech at the opening of the 7th symposium of the Algerian Gas Industry Association, Mr. Hakkar explained that “Sonatrach will continue to provide its partners with a secure, reliable, stable and sustainable supply of natural gas, stressing that gas demand is guaranteed in the medium and long term”.
Mr. Hakkar stressed, according to the APS agency, that the Sonatrach group “has made significant efforts to supply, with additional quantities, natural gas in 2022, in addition to honoring its commitments to its local and foreign customers,” indicating that “the group intends to continue to develop its gas potential in order to place additional volumes on the national and international markets, in particular the European one.”
The CEO of Sonatrach thanked, on the occasion, the partners of his group who continue to invest in the Algerian gas upstream and to encourage international players to join the group. ”
Algeria offers a favorable environment for foreign investors in the upstream gas sector, with a clear regulatory framework, significant reserves, developed infrastructure, strategic partnerships and attractive tax benefits,” he said. adding that “gas is a fundamental energy of the future that contributes to the fair and inclusive energy transition and energy security”.
Mr. Hakkar also indicated that Sonatrach is committed to preserving the environment through the application of environmentally friendly production and processing practices, adding that “his group has given priority to the reduction of gas flaring with a goal of zero flaring by 2030, in addition to plans to reduce methane emissions that it wishes to finalize and deploy in all its facilities.
