ALGIERS, May 6 (Reuters) - OPEC member Algeria's crude oil and natural gas output declined by 6 percent in 2012, official figures published on Monday showed.
The data, released by the National Statistics Office and published in government newspaper El Moudjahid, also showed an 8.6 percent decrease in liquefied natural gas production, while oil refined products dropped 7.8 percent.
The report provided no figures and gave no reason for the decline.
Algeria in the second half of last year started maintenance and improvement works at its main refinery in the port town of Skikda.
The country's central bank had said overall energy exports declined by 3.3 percent in 2012, pushing earnings down to $70.59 billion from $71.66 billion in the previous year.
Oil and gas account for about 97 percent of Algeria's total exports.
Algeria amended its energy law in January in a bid to make the sector more attractive to foreign investors, who are now raising security issues as main concern following a deadly attack on the In Amenas gas plant earlier this year.
Algeria pledged to step up security at oil and gas installations after the assault on the plant operated jointly by BP
(Reporting By Hamid Ould Ahmed; editing by James jukwey)
((hamid.ouldahmed@thomsonreuters.com)(+213 21 727020)(Reuters Messaging:hamid.ouldahmed.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: ENERGY ALGERIA/OUTPUT
