With Algeria struggling to counter natural declines which have slowly but steadily eroded its oil production capacity over the past couple of decades, a rare greenfield start-up this week offers modest cause for optimism.
Thai state firm PTTEP started up the initial 13,000 b/d phase of its Hassi Bir Rekaiz (HBR: Sonatrach 51%, PTTEP 49%) project in Algeria on 1 June, marking the first portion of fresh output from the Touggourt region where state firm Sonatrach is planning to add nearly 200,000 b/d in the coming years (MEES, 1 April). (CONTINUED - 505 WORDS)
