See also:
» 21.07.2009 - OPEC may cut oil output in September
» 26.02.2009 - Algeria to erect nuclear Power plant
» 23.02.2009 - OPEC may cut output again
» 28.01.2009 - Repsol makes gas discoveries in Algeria's Sahara desert
» 19.01.2009 - OPEC may cut output again
» 07.08.2008 - Algeria makes new oil and gas finds
» 12.05.2008 - Algeria to export power through Morocco
» 27.03.2007 - Algeria keen on establishing "Gas OPEC"











Algeria
Economy - Development

Russia's Gazprom enters Africa through Algerian field

Drilling of Gazprom's first prospecting well in Algeria

© Gazprom / afrol News
afrol News, 16 March
- Russia's powerful oil and gas company Gazprom has announced its first operation in Africa, starting to drill a prospecting well in Algeria's Berkine basin. A deeper Algerian-Russian cooperation could lead to a joint control of most of Europe's large natural gas market.

Gazprom's entrance in Algeria and Africa was announced in a statement by the private-public company, which is the largest natural gas producer in the world and also Russia's largest company.

The company now has "commenced drilling of the first prospecting well (Rhourde Sayah-2) in Africa within the El Assel license area of Algeria's Berkine basin," the statement said. Gazprom is hoping to find commercial quantities of natural gas in the well. The El Assel license block is located in the Berkine Basin, 500 kilometres south of Algiers and 150 kilometres from the town of Hassi Messaoud – a gas production centre.

Gazprom EP International is operator of the said project in partnership with the Algerian State Oil and Gas Corporation Sonatrach. Gazprom and Sonatrach hold a 49 and a 51 percent stakes in the project.

Meanwhile, Gazprom also announced it was carrying out "large-scale 3D seismic surveying in other parts of the license area." According to preliminary estimates, drilling of the first well was to be completed in June 2010 and another three wells are to be drilled within 2 years, according to the company.

Algeria's proven natural gas reserves account for 4.5 trillion cubic meters. This is second-largest in Africa after Nigeria, which has proven reserves of 5.15 trillion cubic meters. The bulk of Algeria's natural gas reserves are concentrated in the central and eastern parts of the country.

Gazprom has been present in Algeria since 2006, when the Russian company signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Sonatrach. The document identified the several key areas for cooperation deepening, including geological exploration, production, transmission, gas transport and distribution system development, asset swaps, processing and marketing of oil and natural gas in Algeria, Russia and in third countries.

Russia and Algeria are, together with Norway, the main sources for natural gas in Europe, a major energy source for households and the industry. During the last years, Europe's dependence on Russian gas imports has become increasingly controversial as Moscow has used its control over the resource to pressurise neighbours such as Ukraine.

A possible alliance between Russia and Algeria regarding gas prices and gas exports has caused concern in the European Union (EU), which is seeking to diversify its energy imports and lessen its dependence of Russia.


- Create an e-mail alert for Algeria news
- Create an e-mail alert for Economy - Development news


 
    Printable version

On the Afrol News front page now


UN will not monitor human rights in Western Sahara

afrol News - The US has backed down on its demand that UN peacekeepers in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara also shall monitor the human rights situation after Moroccan sources threatened to scale down relations with Washington.
Central African Republic
Central African Republic falling apart

afrol News - One month after the rebel movement Séléka took over power in the Central African Republic, unrest is spreading in the country. The new leader lacks control of his forces, which continue looting and abusing civilians.
Kenya
Kenyatta secures tight victory in Kenya

afrol News - The official election results in Kenya have finally been announced, and Uhuru Kenyatta managed to win the first poll round outright with a narrow 50.7 percent. But the main opponent, PM Raila Odinga, is filing a vote rigging complaint to the courts.
Cape Verde
Cape Verde to produce dragon fruit

afrol News - Cape Verde authorities have invested large sums to diversify the arid country's agricultural sector. Now, the dragon fruit, originating in tropical America, is being introduced for the first commercial production in Africa.
Egypt
Even governors in Pharaonic Egypt died in their 20s

afrol News - Researchers have analysed more than 200 mummies from ancient Egypt, finding that even high dignitaries were poorly nourished and had infectious diseases. The typical governor in Pharaonic Egypt died before he was 30 years old.



front page | news | countries | archive | currencies | news alerts login | about afrol News | contact | advertise | español 

©  afrol News. Reproducing or buying afrol News' articles.

   You can contact us at mail@afrol.com