OREANDA-NEWS. Eni and the Algerian state company Sonatrach have started gas production from the Menzel Ledjmet East (MLE) field on 31 January 2013, located in Block 405b, around 1,000 km from Algiers, and jointly operated by Eni and Sonatrach.

A plant, located in the field, allows for the treatment of rich gas for the daily production and sale of 9 million cubic meters of gas, 15,000 barrels of oil and condensate and 12,000 barrels of LPG. The project was completed around 4 years after Eni’s acquisition, in December 2008, of the Canadian company First Calgary Petroleum, which owns block 405b.

Eni has been present in Algeria since 1981 and participates in 24 exploration and development licenses which are currently in production, and in 8 permits under development. In 2012, Eni was the leading producer in the country with a daily equity production of approximately 80,000 barrels of oil equivalent. With the start of production at the MLE field and other projects, Eni strengthens its presence in the country, and expects to achieve a daily equity production of 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent in 2013.