Norwegian state firm Statoil is moving its employees back into Algeria after January’s deadly In Amenas attack. But major questions on security remain. Meanwhile Total has yet to reach the agreements needed to move forward on the key Ahnet tight gas project.

Since the US issued estimates that Algeria is sitting on the world’s third largest shale gas reserves, the country’s energy officials have been brimming with optimism. But ambitious plans to double Algeria’s gas production within a decade face significant near term obstacles, with security concerns and prolonged negotiations stalling progress. (CONTINUED - 1083 WORDS)