Algeria.. List of new oil and gas discoveries in 2023
Algeria was able to make ten (10) new discoveries of hydrocarbon deposits at the end of September 2023, adding to the 16 other discoveries made in 2022, according to the Government’s General Policy Declaration, presented to the National People’s Assembly (APN) by the Prime Minister, Mr. Aïmene Benabderrahmane.
In this document which takes stock of the activities and actions carried out during the period from September 2022 to August 2023, with the closing forecasts for the current year, the Government reported the completion of 12 exploration wells in mature basins and 5 wells in emerging and border basins, respectively a rate of 28% and 18% of the 2023 annual program.
According to the Declaration, 4 new contracts were signed for the exploitation of hydrocarbons between Sonatrach and large companies, two of which will make it possible to increase the production of the deposits from 60,000 to 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2026.
Regarding revenues from hydrocarbon exports, they reached, at the end of September 2023, around 38 billion dollars, with an average price of 82 dollars per barrel, while in 2022, they had reached around 59.5 billion dollars. dollars with an average barrel price of 104 dollars, up 69% compared to 2021.
In terms of meeting national demand for petroleum products, the document highlighted the projects carried out aimed at the rehabilitation, development and modernization of storage, distribution and pipeline transport infrastructures.
To this end, the Sidi Bel Abbes storage depot was put into operation with a capacity of 180,000 m3, as well as the completion, by the end of the year, of the commissioning of other storage capacities in Khroub (W. Constantine) with a capacity of 172,000 m3, in Laghouat (6,000 m3) and in Drean with 200 m3 (W. d’El Tarf).
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It is also planned in this context, the completion of the program for the construction of motorway service stations, with the commissioning of 34 service stations out of the 42 stations planned and 7 mobile stations.
In terms of electricity and distribution of natural gas by pipeline, efforts have been made to strengthen the means of electricity production, development of the electricity transport and distribution network and electrification and connection of the country in natural gas, while paying particular attention to activities that create wealth and jobs (agricultural areas and investors), it is underlined in the document.
As such, the Government proceeded, at the end of September 2023, to the establishment of an additional electricity production capacity of 604 MW and to the strengthening of the transport and distribution networks by the construction of 5,096 km and 1,260 stations and similar for electricity and 805.5 km and 119 stations for gas.
It was also reported on the completion of projects to connect 32 electricity sites and 28 gas sites for new cities and urban centers, the connection of 1,100 electricity investors and 437 gas sites and the connection of 28 industrial zones in electricity and 19 gas zones.
In addition, 3,047 electrical projects were carried out in dispersed and disadvantaged areas, which made it possible to connect 78,898 homes and the completion of 2,770 other projects in the field of gas, resulting in the connection of 276,304 homes, it was noted. further emphasized in the Declaration.
As part of the renewable energy development strategy, 2,000 hectares of farms were connected, while public lighting involved 5,000 photovoltaic solar light points. The results achieved in this area include the connection of 240 primary schools with autonomous solar energy systems, 2,536 homes and the supply of 965 wells with solar energy.
In addition, the efforts made have enabled the improvement of the energy efficiency of industrial units with a rate of 57% out of a total of 39 projects.
Concerning the mining sector, 39 geological maps and 10 maps linked to mineral resources and quarries, as well as old mines and the exploitation of traditional gold, were produced.
Progress has also been made in the mining research program by reaching the third stage during this year, which concerns 15 projects with an estimated budget of 1.3 billion DA, it is underlined in the document.
