Cepsa, together with its partners Sonatrach and Total, have started production at the Timimoun natural gas field in Algeria. The start-up of a natural gas field is a first for Cepsa.

The field is located in Wilaya de Adrar, to the southwest of the country, and is expected to generate a daily output of five million cubic meters of natural gas at maximum production. The gas field, shared by Sonatrach (51%), Total (37.75%) and Cepsa (11.25%), consists of 37 producing wells connected to the natural gas collection and treatment facilities, together with the natural gas pipeline that connects the gas fields of southwestern Algeria with Hassi R'mel (GR5).

This start-up is a major milestone for the project and the strengthening of the historic association between the three partners, after the signing of the concession contract and the gas sale agreement in December 2017. The project’s development plan was approved by the Algerian authorities in 2009.

Algeria’s Minister of Energy, Mustapha Guitouni, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Noureddine Bedoui, and the Minister of Public Works, Abdelghani Zaalane, took part in the inauguration of the natural gas field. The event was also attended by the Director of Cepsa in Algeria, Francisco Claver, the General Director of Sonatrach, Abdelmoumène Ould Kaddour, and the Director of Total for North Africa and the Middle East, Stephane Mitchell.

Cepsa in Algeria

In Algeria, together with its strategic partner, Sonatrach, Cepsa operates two important oil fields in the Berkine basin — Rhourde el Krouf (RKF) and Ourhoud (ORD), the second largest field in the country, which reached a production of 1 billion barrels in November 2017.

In total, the oil fields operated by Cepsa in Algeria produce more than 130,000 barrels per day. The Company has two other fields: Rhourde er Rouni II, crude oil, and Timimoun, natural gas.

Cepsa has a 42% stake in the Medgaz gas pipeline, an alternative route for the supply of natural gas from Algeria to Europe via Spain. The submarine gas pipeline, operated by Cepsa, has a transport capacity of 8,000 million m3/year and is 210 km long.

Cepsa began its exploration and production activity in Algeria over three decades ago with the help of Sonatrach, to later expand its activity to other countries such as Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Suriname, Thailand, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates, where it has recently expanded its portfolio with the concession of two new offshore fields, and in Mexico, a country in which Cepsa was yesterday awarded three hydrocarbon exploration blocks.

About Cepsa

Cepsa is an energy group wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company. It employs close to 10,000 professionals and operates at every stage of the hydrocarbon value chain. It is engaged in petroleum and natural gas exploration and production activities, refining, the transportation and sale of oil and natural gas derivatives, biofuels, co-generation and the sale of electricity.

The Company has developed a world-class petrochemical division that is tightly integrated with its oil refining segment, where feedstock is manufactured and sold for the production of high-added-value components, chiefly used in making next-generation plastics and biodegradable detergents. It has a significant presence in Spain and, thanks to the progressive internationalization of its activities, it is now also active on several continents, selling its products throughout the world.

About Sonatrach

Sonatrach is the largest oil and gas company in Algeria and Africa. The company operates in exploration, production, pipeline transportation and marketing of hydrocarbons and by products.

About Total

Total is a global integrated energy producer and provider, a leading international oil and gas company, and a major player in solar energy with SunPower and Total Solar. Our 98,000 employees are committed to better energy that is safer, cleaner, more efficient, more innovative and accessible to as many people as possible. As a responsible corporate citizen, we focus on ensuring that our operations in more than 130 countries worldwide consistently deliver economic, social and environmental benefits.