Algeria secures oil fields

Many fear another tragedy like January’s In Amenas crisis Algiers - Khaled Alloush Algeria is experiencing a heightening of tensions amongst foreign workers deployed at oil and gas fields in the country’s Sahel region, following large-scale withdrawals from a Chinese company. Opsa, a Chinese company operating in Algeria’s Adrar border region, has announced the withdrawal of French workers from a compound diluting gas. Officials blamed deteriorating security conditions in the region. Security sources confirmed to Arabstoday that 39 French workers, including 13 engineers and 26 technicians, had left the Ospa site in Adrar this week. One French engineer had complained of “inadequate” security measures by Algerian authorities to protect foreign workers, who many believe are the primary target of terrorist operations like January’s hostage crisis at the In Amenas gas field. Ospa is one of the most significant gas dilution projects in Africa, following its multi-billion dollar launch over one year ago. Canadian company Kankur has also suspended gold exploration and exploitation activities in Algeria’s Hoggar region.