• Sonatrach launches inspection of 3,576 km of gas pipelines
• Project involves Chinese firms under 24-month diagnostic contracts
• Gas exports vital, making up 91% of Algeria’s 2023 exports

Algeria's state-owned oil and gas company, Sonatrach, launched a massive inspection of 3,576 kilometers of its pipeline network on Thursday, Sept. 25, as it seeks to ensure the long-term efficiency and reliability of its critical gas infrastructure.

The operation is being carried out under two contracts signed with a consortium comprising Shenglong Oil And Gas Pipeline Inspection Technology Co., Ltd (SLPI), a Chinese company linked to Sinopec, and China Petroleum Technology and Development Corporation (CAIEC).

In 2023, Sonatrach exported 34.9 billion cubic meters of gas via pipeline out of a total of 52 billion cubic meters, with overall commercialized production estimated at 105 billion cubic meters for the period.

Sonatrach’s entire network spans over 21,000 kilometers, including the strategically vital Transmed (to Italy) and Medgaz (to Spain) pipelines, which have a combined capacity to deliver 43 billion cubic meters of gas per year. While the extensive network is a strategic asset for Algeria, its sheer size also makes it vulnerable to technical risks related to wear and failure, a concern highlighted in a January 2025 engineering study published on the arXiv online platform.

The agreements stipulate a 24-month execution period during which work will include topographical surveys, section cleaning, defect detection and localization, precise mapping, and training local teams in digital data analysis. The goal is to obtain a complete diagnosis of the pipelines' condition to plan necessary maintenance work.

Beyond the technical necessity, the stakes for Algeria are primarily economic. The country derives the majority of its external revenue from hydrocarbons. According to French Treasury data, oil and gas accounted for approximately 91 percent of Algerian exports in 2023.

Although financial details of the contracts were not released, Sonatrach announced in 2023 that it planned to invest $50 billion in the hydrocarbon sector between 2024 and 2028, with the modernization of its infrastructure being a key part of that investment plan.

Abdel-Latif Boureima