ATLANTA, Ga. - According to the June 1 issue of Energy Pipeline News, an Atlanta-based subscription newsletter, Sonatrach President and Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Meziane has informed U.S. officials that the Algerian state energy company wants to triple natural gas exports to the U.S. from four billion to 12 billion cubic meters per year by 2015,.
The former French colony in North Africa is also seeking technical assistance from the U.S. to develop its civilian nuclear capabilities.
Algerian energy minister Chakib Khelil met recently with his U.S. counterpart, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, in Washington.
According to Meziane, Algeria currently supplies only five percent of U.S. natural gas demand, estimated at 100,000 cubic meters per day.
Algeria presently exports more than 50 billion cubic meters of gas to international markets, and it hopes to increase this figure to 85 billion cubic meters by 2015.
As part of a new strategy, Sonatrach has decided to export 50 percent of its gas destined for external consumption through pipelines, and 50 percent through massive LNG tankers headed primarily towards U.S. and Asian markets.
Meziane asserted that, "Our interest is no longer directed solely towards European nations."
