Benflis calls for national dialogue on shale gas exploration in Algeria

Candidate for the April 17 presidential elections in Algeria, Ali Benflis, has called for the opening of a national dialogue on the authorities’ recent decision to allow in the near future the exploration of shale gas deposits in Algeria, stressing that seasoned experts should be consulted before embarking on such a major exploration and exploitation endeavor.

Benflis pointed out that democratic principles and good governance should not exclude the Algerian people from decision – making regarding their future and that of the rising generations.

 According to Ali Benflis, the authorities’ latest decision to allow shale gas exploration in Algeria is “hasty” adding that the relevant experts and specialists in this line of activity should have been consulted beforehand.

The Council of Ministers earlier announced it will move forward with the exploitation of the country’s large shale gas reserves.

The official statement issued Wednesday night gave the green light to finding foreign partners to exploit the reserves.

“President Abdelaziz Bouteflika gave instructions to the government to make sure that prospection and exploitation of shale hydrocarbons be carried out with a permanent concern of preserving water resources and protecting environment,” the Council of Ministers’ statement stressed.

According to a 2013 report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Algeria is third globally after China and Argentina in technically recoverable shale gas reserves with 707 trillion cubic feet (20 trillion cubic meters) of reserves.

It has yet to be determined if the reserves are commercially viable. The state said 11 wells will be drilled over the next 7 to 13 years.