IOCs start to assess Algerian shale gas potential

A number of international oil companies have given guarded support to energy and mines minister Youcef Yousfi’s contention that upstream shale reserves hold the key to Algeria’s long-term dominance of global gas markets, even before a regulatory regime and incentives for non-conventional reserves are unveiled. IOCs are still calling on the government and regulator Alnaft to open up unconventional oil and gas.