TotalFinaElf announces that it has been awarded an exploration permit following a bid-round in Algeria. Located in the Berkine Basin east of Hassi Messaoud, the permit comprises three blocks (432, 444 south and 403 North), covering an area of 3,080 square kilometres. The work commitment to be undertaken by TotalFinaElf on the permit includes a 500-kilometre 2-D seismic survey and the drilling of two wells.

TotalFinaElf already operates in partnership with Sonatrach, the Algerian oil and gas company, the Tin Fouyé Tabankort (TFT) natural gas field in the south-eastern region of Algeria, which produces 18 million cubic metres of dry gas per day, 990,000 metric tons per year of condensate and 890,000 metric tons per year of liquefied petroleum gas. The Group is also a partner with Sonatrach in the development of the Hamra field, which currently produces around 840,000 metric tons of condensate per year and 390,000 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas per year.

The award of this new permit confirms the interest of TotalFinaElf in the Algerian upstream oil sector and reflects the Group’s strategy of strengthening its position in North Africa.