(Ecofin Agency) - Sonatrach has initiated a bidding round to select companies that will construct six compressor stations at a total cost of $1 billion. This is part of a multi-billion dollar programme for the expansion of pipelines, compression and pumping stations within the next four years to assist Algeria in pumping more gas from new fields in the South.

The state energy company in 2014, selected 16 international companies including Bonatti, Techint Group, China Petroleum Pipelines and Technicas Reunidas.

The country is the third biggest gas supplier to the European Union after Russia and Norway.

Europe and Algeria are currently in talks to look at measures that can be put in place in order to defeat administrative and technical problems that have delayed investment in Algeria and to help develop energy cooperation, Trade Arabia reports.

Anita Fatunji