The oil and gas-processing hub of Arzew in western Algeria has a new liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) filling plant, which will be operational in the next three weeks. The plant was initially scheduled to open at the end of 2004 but its opening was delayed due to problems in receiving the final equipment. The project was the responsibility of refiner Naftal, a subsidiary of Sonatrach, which hired in 2001 the Belgian engineering firm Basse Sambre-Eri for the construction of the plant.
The plant introduces new technology that maximizes bottling operations, utilizing computer technology and high speed filling. The plant is located on a seven-hectare site along with the rail track linking Oran to Mostaganem, which is currently under construction.
The plant will handle 2,400-13 kilo butane containers per hour through two production lines. It will also produce 240 containers per hour of 3-kilo capacity.
The total hourly production will be 34 tons of LPG, allowing the closing of the old unit that dates back to 1950s. The closing of the old site is also a move to shut down operations that are close to living areas and urban settings and which represent a potential risk.
Finally, Naftal paid Basse Sambre-Eri some 8 million euros, financed through a loan agreement concluded in October 2000 between the Banque Extrieure d'Algrie (BEA) and the Belgian Fortis. Basse Sambre-Eri has been active in Algeria for over 30 years where it build industrial facilities there, including five LPG filling centers for Naftal.
© The North Africa Journal 2005
