Forbes: Is Algeria's Shale Revolution Faltering?

Blame it on the threat of collapsing global oil prices or the ongoing protests in response to the environmental impact of fracking – either way, Algeria’s shale gas dreams have gotten fuzzier in recent weeks. According to local media reports, Algeria’s political and energy leadership, as seen in the state-backed Sonatrach, have had little luck calming public protests against the prospect of turning the country into the world’s next shale revolution.T

These protests have made it especially difficult to follow through on the government’s plans, as laid out over the last several years. Last year, Algiers amended national law to allow more favorable conditions for those firms interested in shale projects last year, Algeria announced a $100 billion budget for new hydrocarbon development, including “blocks for unconventional resources, with tax incentives for foreign companies interested in investing in shale gas and shale oil,” an important component of the country’s energy plans moving forward, according to a Reuters report. Additionally, in June of this year, the country’s government announced plans to launch a dozen test wells over the next 7 to 13 years. MORE