BENI SAF MEDGAZ, Algeria - Algeria hopes to export 7 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas via the Medgaz gas pipeline to Spain this year, the chief executive of state energy firm Sonatrach said on Tuesday.

The OPEC producer exported 4.5 bcm of gas via the pipeline in the first eight months, CEO Ould Kaddour told reporters during a visit to the Beni Saf Medgaz station.

"Our strategy is to boost gas output," he said when asked about the firm's strategy. "We can increase the Medgaz capacity by 2 billion cubic metres."

(Reporting by Lamine Chikhi; writing by Ulf Laessing; editing by Jason Neely) ((ulf.laessing@thomsonreuters.com ; +216-29850352;))