Algeria to Launch Shale Gas Development

Algeria's Sonatrach will launch a pilot project for developing unconventional gas resources in 2012.

"We are ready to go it alone if we cannot find a partner," said the head of Sonatrach E&P Exploration Djamel Bekkouche.

The North African OPEC member supplies about 20 percent of Europe's natural gas but some analysts say it has under-invested in new oil and gas projects.

Bekkouche, who described the shale gas prospects as very interesting, said there had been an exchange of views with international oil companies about shale gas development.

"Italian oil and gas group Eni SpA is looking," he said.

Eni has entered shale gas development projects in Poland and the United States. It has agreed to develop shale gas opportunities with China's PetroChina Co Ltd.

It has said it is looking into non-conventional resource development in North Africa.

Bekkouche said it normally took between five and eight years for shale gas projects to come on line.

Source: Reuters