Yousfi: Sonatrach will stand up in court to defend its interests

Algerian energy minister Youcef Yousfi Wednesday said the government took a set of measures about the Sonatrach corruption case, the public opinion case No 1 in Algeria.

“The government gave very strict instructions to companies to defend its interests. Sonatrach may stand up in court defend its interests in corruption cases which have been recently reveled in national and international media,” Yousfi told national daily Echaab.

“Justice opened an investigation into the case and we will take necessary measures when the investigation is over,” he added.

“We are determined to fight corruption.”

Earlier, Italy’s prosecutors put Eni head Paolo Scaroni under investigation in a probe into alleged bribes paid to win contracts in Algeria for Eni’s subsidy Saipem.

Ten days ago, Attorney General Belkacem Zaghmati said a judicial investigation was opened in Sonatrach’s recent case.

Speaking about Tiguentourine’s gas facility which was targeted by a terrorist group in January, Yousfi said the complex will operate partially in consultation with Sonatrach’s partners.

He also said security measures in all energy facilities in Algeria were stepped up in cooperation with security forces. The government took very stringent security measures.

“Inspection operations led to discover fake entry passes to those sites,” he said.