Sahara Desert to Become Gas Oasis

Sahara desert from July 18th has been supplied by gas from Algeria's In Salah project. The project is operated by BP, Sonatrach and Statoil.

Annual output from In Salah will be 9 billion cubic meters of gas.

From In Salah gas is piped through the project's new 500-kilometer export pipeline. This runs to Sonatrach's big Hassi R'Mel field, which serves as the hub for all gas pipelines in the Sahara.

The agreements which make Statoil a co-operator and partner in these two fields were recently approved by the Algerian Council of Ministers.

These contracts will provide a foundation for Statoil's future commitment in north Africa and are important for its international business, says Kеre Rшsandhaug, Statoil's manager for the gas project.