Sonatrach and Oman’s Bahwan Group settle dispute

After a stand-off lasting more than three years, Sonatrach and Oman’s Suhail Bahwan Group have reached a compromise which will allow the completion of the Al-Djazaïria al-Omania Lil Asmida (AOA) fertiliser production plant. Construction of the half-completed facility was suspended in 2011 after Sonatrach objected to fundamental terms of the contract it originally signed in 2008. These included a beneficial price for gas feedstock and majority Omani ownership of the project.On 8 September the two companies agreed an amendment to AOA’s articles of association covering the “the revision of certain provisions in order to rebalance the economic and operational interests of both parties”.