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By Lamine Chikhi
ALGIERS, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Algeria's energy exports increased by 8 percent last month to 71.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent (TOE) versus 65.4 million TOE in August 2015, a statement from state energy firm Sonatrach showed.
Over the last year, Algeria has started to reverse a trend of declining production by targeting better output from more-mature oilfields and planning to bring more gas fields online in its deep southern Sahara.
Algeria increased gas exports via its three pipelines by 43 percent in August, the statement quoted by official APS news agency said.
"This confirms the good re-positioning targeted by Sonatrach in the European market," Sonatrach said.
But oil exports decreased by 8 percent as this volume was used to refine gasoline and diesel, Sonatrach said.
"We have reduced our imports (gasoline, diesel) by 43 percent and saved $750 million," the statement said.
The North African OPEC state had struggled until last year with stagnating energy production after it failed to draw major foreign investment in its last bidding rounds auctioning oil and gas fields.
Some foreign companies see Algeria's contract terms as unattractive or have not been drawn by the fields on offer. Earlier this year, Algeria said Sonatrach would start bilateral deals directly with companies to speed up and ease bureaucracy.
At a May summit, European Union officials and energy firms urged Algeria to adapt to more competitive markets so as to attract the investment needed to pump more gas north.
Algeria is seen as a natural partner for the European Union as it looks to diversify energy supplies after the Ukraine conflict again exposed the risks of relying on the bloc's top gas supplier, Russia.
Algeria is the EU's third-biggest gas supplier behind Russia and Norway, yet its export capacity through three pipelines and LNG shipments across the Mediterranean has been underused in recent years.
(Writing by Patrick Markey; Editing by Dale Hudson) ((pat.markey@thomsonreuters.com; +213-661-692993; Reuters Messaging: pat.markey.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
ALGIERS, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Algeria's energy exports increased by 8 percent last month to 71.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent (TOE) versus 65.4 million TOE in August 2015, a statement from state energy firm Sonatrach showed.
Over the last year, Algeria has started to reverse a trend of declining production by targeting better output from more-mature oilfields and planning to bring more gas fields online in its deep southern Sahara.
Algeria increased gas exports via its three pipelines by 43 percent in August, the statement quoted by official APS news agency said.
"This confirms the good re-positioning targeted by Sonatrach in the European market," Sonatrach said.
But oil exports decreased by 8 percent as this volume was used to refine gasoline and diesel, Sonatrach said.
"We have reduced our imports (gasoline, diesel) by 43 percent and saved $750 million," the statement said.
The North African OPEC state had struggled until last year with stagnating energy production after it failed to draw major foreign investment in its last bidding rounds auctioning oil and gas fields.
Some foreign companies see Algeria's contract terms as unattractive or have not been drawn by the fields on offer. Earlier this year, Algeria said Sonatrach would start bilateral deals directly with companies to speed up and ease bureaucracy.
At a May summit, European Union officials and energy firms urged Algeria to adapt to more competitive markets so as to attract the investment needed to pump more gas north.
Algeria is seen as a natural partner for the European Union as it looks to diversify energy supplies after the Ukraine conflict again exposed the risks of relying on the bloc's top gas supplier, Russia.
Algeria is the EU's third-biggest gas supplier behind Russia and Norway, yet its export capacity through three pipelines and LNG shipments across the Mediterranean has been underused in recent years.
(Writing by Patrick Markey; Editing by Dale Hudson) ((pat.markey@thomsonreuters.com; +213-661-692993; Reuters Messaging: pat.markey.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
