Algeria has awarded construction contracts for the pipeline set to handle gas shipments from fields being developed as part of the giant South West Gas Project (SWGP). First gas is now due by the end of 2015.

The pipeline will initially have a 6 bcm/year capacity but has the potential for expansion to a whopping 27 bcm/y – although this will be reliant on significant new gas discoveries. First volumes will come from GdF Suez’s 4.5 bcm/y Touat development, with Total’s 1.6 bcm/y Timimoun to follow in 2016 and 2.9 bcm/y Repsol-led Reggane Nord set to enter production by the end of 2016 (see table). (CONTINUED - 831 WORDS)