The Alrar gas complex, operated by the Algerian state-owned company Sonatrach, has resumed its activities after a fire affected its Train 1 in November 2024. Located in the Illizi province in southern Algeria, the site is a key component of the country’s natural gas production.
A Gradual Resumption of Operations
Sonatrach announced on February 12, 2025, the restart of three out of the four production units at the complex. Train 1, which was damaged by the fire, remains offline pending rehabilitation work. According to the company, these maintenance operations will eventually restore the site’s full capacity, estimated at 18 million cubic meters of processed gas per day. However, no specific timeline has been provided for the completion of these repairs.
Maintaining Contractual Commitments
Despite the incident, Sonatrach assures that its contractual obligations to its partners are being met. The state-owned company affirms its position as a stable supplier in the global gas market, a strategic issue in the evolving international energy demand landscape.
Strengthening Gas Infrastructure
The Algerian company continues to invest in its infrastructure to secure and optimize production. In 2022, it announced the construction of a methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) production unit within the Arzew gas and petrochemical complex. This facility, aimed at strengthening the country’s petrochemical integration, is expected to be operational by June 2025.
