Algerian state energy company Sonatrach announced on Tuesday six oil and gas discoveries in the first quarter of this year, mostly in the southeast of the country.
The company had previously said it would produce 200 million tonnes of oil equivalent, a figure it had not reached since 2010.
"Sonatrach announces that it has made 6 hydrocarbon discoveries based on its own efforts during the first quarter," the company said in a statement.
The company explained that these discoveries included:
- Two oil discoveries in the Amqeed Masoud basin (southeast) following the drilling of two wells.
- Two discoveries in the Berkin Basin (southeast), containing gas, oil and condensate.
- An invasive discovery in the Ohant area of the basin of the province of Illizi bordering Libya (southeast).
- A discovery in the Wadi Mia basin, southeast of Hassi R'mel, the largest gas field in the country (Laghouat).
In total, the volume of gas through the six discoveries amounted to one million and 417 thousand and 483 cubic meters per day, and 16 thousand and 84 barrels of crude oil.
The company's statement pointed out that these discoveries highlight the magnitude of Sonatrach's efforts in the field of exploration to replenish its hydrocarbon reserves, and confirm the attractiveness of the mining sector in Algeria.
According to official data from Sonatrach, the company made 35 oil and gas discoveries between 2020 and the end of 2022, of which only one with a foreign partner, Italy's Enni.