In Algeria, the Council of the Ministers, have approved the amendment of a hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation contract between Sonatrach and Italy’s Eni for the Zemoul El Khbar perimeter.

The council under the Chairmanship of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, met on Wednesday to approve the amendment. “The Council of the Ministers continued the deliberations by the examination and the approval of a draft presidential decree, presented by Energy Minister on the approval of the amendment no 4 of the hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation contract on the perimeter Zemoul El Khbar (block 403.d)”, the Council of the Ministers said in a communiqué.

According to Algeria Press Service, the amendment which was signed by Sonatrach and Eni-Algeria includes a five-year extension (which began July 8, 2015), of the use of the Rhoude Messaoud oil deposit by the two parties.