Shale Gas Exploration "Is Not Yet on the Agenda”, Says Algerian President Bouteflika

Shale gas exploration in the country "is not yet on the agenda”, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has said.

Speaking during a restricted meeting devoted to local development in southern and High Plateaux provinces, President Bouteflika underlined the "misunderstandings and concerns" following the preliminary tests in the field of shale gas, reported Algeria Press Service on Tuesday

The Algerian state owned news agency added that he urged the government to continue to provide explanations to local population and public opinion in general, not only to explain that the drilling tests launched in In-Salah "will end very soon" but also to confirm that the "exploitation of this new energy is not yet on the agenda."

"If the exploitation of these new national hydrocarbon resources proves to be necessary for the energy security of the country in the long terms, the government will ensure the respect of the law by the involved operators for the protection of the population health and the environment," Bouteflika said.

Earlier this month the Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal announced Algeria has decided to abandon plans to drill for shale gas in the country amid protests.

Last month Algeria successfully completed its first pilot drilling of shale gas in the Ahnet Basin (In Salah), results of which is ''very promising”. This first pilot well drilled by Sonatrach confirmed the existence of substantial reserves of shale gas in the Ahnet basin, located in In Salah.