Algeria revives long-stalled projects

Energy minister Noureddine Bouterfa has committed to accelerating downstream developments over the next year, ordering studies to develop petrochemicals projects and reviving plans to build four new oil refineries – at Tiaret, Hassi Messaoud, Biskra and Arzew – “to raise fuel production by some 20m tonnes”, he said in late December. This would revive projects promoted a decade ago, but largely stalled since. State energy giant Sonatrach suggested progress was now possible, ending 2016 by awarding engineering studies contracts for the Skikda refinery upgrade, Algiers refinery refurbishment and for the eventual construction of a methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) plant at Arzew.