30 representatives of In Salah protesters due in Algiers Thursday to meet with PM Sellal

A deputy of the national people’s assembly representing the southern province of Tamanrasset, Mohamed Baba Ali, has brought into focus the initiative of the Prime Minister Mr Abdelmalek Sellal and the Government and all actors involved in the issue of the shale gas exploitation, to open doors for dialogue with the In Salah protestors , in case the Premier reacted positively to such a move aimed at defusing the burning crisis as early as possible.

Mr Baba Ali told “Echorouk” that  30 representatives of Tamanrasset province would travel to the capital Algiers on Thursday to meet with the Prime Minister, and open a frank discussion with him regarding the vexed issue of the shale gas exploitation, “within the framework of dialogue and not negotiation because we cannot negotiate with our Government, as he put it.

Mr Baba Ali added that the protestors in In Salah had agreed to the dispatching to Algiers of 30 of their representatives with the aim of opening a sincere and frank dialogue on the controversial shale gas issue with the authorities concerned in line with the latest guidelines issued by the President Abdelaziz Bouteflika himself during a recent small-scale ministerial meeting.

He also expressed the wish that such dialogue and concertation would produce a mutually-acceptable breakthrough at the earliest possible time.

The shale gas exploitation in the country’s southern region is not on the Government’s agenda, affirmed earlier this week Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, stressing that only studies are conducted about the techniques used in this field.

After stressing the need for Sonatrach group to acquire all the expertise in this field, the Premier said that “the Government has set, on the instruction of President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika, deadlines for studies at 2022 so to better understand the matter and have estimates of the underground shale gas reserves.”

“The policy currently followed by the Government for the development of the domestic energy production is based on renewable energy investments and the possibility of shale gas exploitation is being left for future generations; if necessary,” added the Prime Minister.

Talking about what is currently done in the southern region of Algeria, Sellal stressed that “an operation of shale gas prospection was conducted through the drilling of a first well in Ahnet (In Salah, 1300 km south of Algiers)) which has gave excellent results,” adding that a second well is being drilled.

“Once those two wells drilled, studies will be carried out over a four year period, which will focus on the preservation of groundwater and the health of citizens,” he added.

“Algerian executives will be trained during these four years,” he added, noting that Sonatrach plans to build a training centre in In Salah region.

After stating that Algeria possesses the third, or second largest shale gas reserves in the world, Sellal recalled the revision in February 2013 of the hydrocarbons law, “which provided for those studies to be conducted on possible exploitation of shale gas in the future.”

In this context, Sellal reaffirmed his commitment and that of President Bouteflika to the development of Algeria’s southern regions and to the preservation of the ecosystem by encouraging non-hydrocarbon investments.

The Prime Minister said that “it is inconceivable to start shale gas without the authorizations of the Council of Ministers and such a project is not on the agenda.”

“Until now, we have given no authorization for the exploitation of shale gas and we do not intend to do on the short term,” the Prime Minister declared to reassure the people of the South, adding that “the current energy program (in conventional hydrocarbons) will continue until 2030.”