Algeria’s PM Abdelmalek Sellal this week laid the foundation stone for a new refinery at Tiaret, 220km southwest of Algiers. He emphasized the need to adhere to the project’s construction schedule so it would be ready for operation by 2020.

The Tiaret plant is one of three 5mn tons/year (108,000 b/d) refineries scheduled for development by state firm Sonatrach for start-up by 2020. Similar plants are planned to be built at Biskra, 320km southeast of Algiers, and at the key Saharan oil hub of Hassi Messaoud, 740km south-southwest of Algiers. (CONTINUED - 453 WORDS)