Algeria has officially commissioned the Aïn Tsila gas processing complex, a landmark project in the Illizi basin designed to boost the country’s natural gas production and exports.
The state-of-the-art facility, located within the Isarene field, has a processing capacity of 12 million cubic meters (mcm) of gas per day. It includes two advanced processing trains, a 125 MW power plant, and is linked to the national grid through a 355-km pipeline network.
The complex enables the on-site processing of associated gas from the Tin-Fouyé-Tabenkort (TFT) basin, producing 1,800 tonnes of condensates and 1,600 tonnes of LPG daily. Official estimates indicate reserves of 2.1 trillion cubic feet of gas, 67 million barrels of condensates, and around 108 million barrels of LPG in the wider field.
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Scope of work
The project was developed under a joint venture between Sonatrach, UK-based Sunny Hill Energy (formerly Petroceltic), and Italy’s Enel, with a US$600 million EPC contract awarded to UK’s Petrofac in 2019. Current production from the TFT field has reached 54,000 barrels of crude oil per day and 5.2 mcm/day of associated gas, with 2.4 mcm/day earmarked for export.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab and Sonatrach CEO Rachid Hachichi, accompanied by senior executives and representatives from the National Federation of Petroleum, Gas and Chemical Workers (FNTPGC). Sonatrach emphasized that the Aïn Tsila complex is part of its broader strategy to expand energy infrastructure and reinforce Algeria’s role in international energy markets.
“This modern infrastructure is crucial for enhancing Algeria’s energy production and export capacities, contributing significantly to its economic growth and positioning it as a key player in Africa’s evolving energy sector,” Sonatrach said in a statement.
The commissioning of the Aïn Tsila facility marks a major milestone in Algeria’s energy landscape, strengthening both domestic energy security and the country’s long-term export potential.
