LNG

June 7 (LNGJ) - The Med-class LNG carrier “Cheikh Bouamama” with capacity of 74,245 cubic metres was scheduled to deliver a cargo to the Spanish import terminal in Barcelona. The volumes were lifted on June 6 from the Skikda liquefaction plant on the Algerian Mediterranean coast.

   Another carrier, the “Adamastos” with 174,100 cubic metres of capacity, is planning to lie off Gibraltar to await orders, according to shipping data, concerning the cargo it lifted on May 28 from the Corpus Christi LNG plant in Texas.

Sonatrach, the Algerian state energy company and LNG producer, has signed an accord with French major TotalEnergies to expand cooperation in the exploration and production of natural gas and in the LNG business.

The Sonatrach-TotalEnergies memorandum of understanding outlines the realisation of a work programme for the appraisal and development of natural gas resources in the Northeast Timimoun region.

The accord includes synergies with existing processing facilities for production from the Timimoun field to reduce costs and emissions.

Sonatrach and TotalEnergies plan to “consolidate their partnership and expand their cooperation” in their gas resources and LNG business.

Sonatrach added that the accord “defines the framework of cooperation between the parties” with the objective of concluding a hydrocarbon contract in the identified area of ​​interest.

Interests

TotalEnergies is active in oil and gas exploration and production through its interests in the Tin Fouyé Tabankort (TFT) and Timimoun gas fields, the Berkine Basin oil fields (Blocks 404a and 208) and via LNG supply contracts with Sonatrach.

“Sonatrach and TotalEnergies operate, within the framework of association contracts, the contractual areas of TFT II, ​​TFT Sud, Timimoun and Berkine,” the statement noted.

These are among the largest gas fields Algeria and located in the prolific Illizi-Ghadames Basin.

Total and Sonatrach are also advancing with their petrochemical project development for Western Algeria.

“This memorandum of understanding reflects our shared willingness to expand our strategic partnership with Sonatrach,” explained Julien Pouget, Senior Vice President Middle East and North Africa, Exploration and Production at TotalEnergies.

Sonatrach and TotalEnergies earlier in 2023 extended their cooperation in the LNG sector with a new contract.

In 2025, Sonatrach will thus be delivering 2 million tonnes per annum of LNG to TotalEnergies at the LNG importer terminal at Fos-Cavaou, west of Marseille.

Energy security

“This will contribute directly to the security of energy supply in France and Europe,” the statement added.

Algerian LNG exports have been recovering from a low ebb and increased by almost 9 percent to 13.45 million tonnes in 2023 from 12.40MT in the previous year from the Arzew and Skikda liquefaction plants on the Mediterranean Coast.

Algeria is also a main pipeline natural gas supplier to Europe via Trans-Mediterranean pipelines supplying Italy as well as Spain and Portugal.

Sept 14 (LNGJ) - The Med-class LNG carrier “Cheikh El Mokrani” with 73,990 cubic metres of capacity is scheduled to deliver an Algerian cargo on September 18 to the UK Isle of Grain LNG import terminal on the Medway River in Kent, according to shipping data. The cargo was lifted on September 11 from the Skikda liquefaction plant on Algeria’s Mediterranean coast.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has visited Algeria on her first foreign trip since taking office, signed four accords with the North African nation, including one on a new natural gas pipeline between Algeria and Italy.

Algerian national energy company and LNG producer Sonatrach said a contract worth $4 billion had been signed relating to supplying the European Union with natural gas through further development along with European and US oil and gas majors of blocks 404 and 208 of the Berkine Basin in Eastern Algeria.

Algeria, the largest supplier of LNG and pipeline natural gas to the neighbouring countries of the Mediterranean Basin, said it would remain a reliable supplier of gas and oil as Algerian President Abdemadjid Tebboune made a state visit to Turkey and Minister of Energy and Mines Mohamed Arkab spoke at a Southern Europe energy conference at Sorrento in Italy.

Sonatrach, the Algerian state energy company and LNG producer, has reported a “significant” oil and associated natural gas discovery with Italy’s Eni in the Zemlet el Arbi concession of the Berkine North Basin in the Algerian desert.

Feb 8 (LNGJ) - Sonatrach, the Algerian oil and gas company and Public Gas Corp. of Greece AE (DEPA) have confirmed the extension of an LNG supply contract relating to the sale and purchase of LNG for delivery to Greece from the North African nation’s Skikda LNG plant. The existing contract was for cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) shipments to Greece's onshore Revithoussa terminal.

   “In addition to the delivery of LNG cargoes to the Greek energy group DEPA, the agreement also provides for a readjustment of the existing contractual terms in accordance with current and future developments in the energy markets,” said Sonatrach.

The chief executives of Italian energy company Eni and Algerian LNG, pipeline natural gas and oil group Sonatrach have signed an accord related to the North African nation’s onshore Berkine Basin.

Sonatrach CEO Toufik Hakkar and his Eni counterpart Claudio Descalzi, signed the deal in the presence of the Algerian Minister of Energy and Mines Mohamed Arkab and Italian Ambassador to Algeria Giovanni Pugliese.

“Eni and Sonatrach also signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation on initiatives in the energy transition,” said a statement.

“The agreements are testimony to the commitment of Sonatrach and Eni to continue the shared strategy of accelerated project development,” said Eni CEO Descalzi.

The Algerian Government noted that the Berkine Basin contract was the first ever signed under the aegis of the new Algerian oil law and covers an area of 7,880 square kilometres in the southern part of the Berkine Basin, in close proximity to the company's current production assets.

More E&P

Descalzi and Hakkar stated that they shared the commitment to create an ambitious exploration and development programme in the area.

“In the first phase, the project envisages the fast-tracked development of reserves estimated at 135 million barrels of oil equivalent, with a start-up of production expected by the end of 2022,” it added.

“This project will enhance synergies with existing plants. The entry into force of the new contract is subject to approval by the competent Algerian authorities,” they stated.

Eni has been present in Algeria since 1981 and is the operator of various permits with an equity production in the country of 95,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Eni also recently agreed earlier in December 2021 to sell a minority stake in two pipelines involved in transporting natural gas from Algeria to Italy for €385 million ($435M) to Italian LNG terminal and gas grid operator Snam.

Eni said that deal involved Snam purchasing a 49.9 percent stake in the onshore gas pipelines running from Algeria to the Tunisia border and the Tunisia coast (TTPC), and the offshore gas pipelines connecting the Tunisian coast to Italy (TMPC).

Eni said the transaction would create synergies in the respective areas of expertise in gas transport on a strategic route for the security of the natural gas supply to Italy.

Snam said the deal consolidated Snam’s central role in Italy’s security of supply as well as in energy transport from the Mediterranean region.

Snam operates the gas grid and the onshore Panigaglia facility in the northwest near Genoa as well as having a 49 percent stake in the LNG facility, the “FSRU Toscana”, which is deployed off the Italian west coast.

Algerian energy company and LNG exporter Sonatrach and Italian oil and gas company Eni have signed an amendment to the contract for the sale and purchase of natural gas delivered to Italy.