Algeria has intensified efforts to reinforce its status as a dependable energy supplier in the Mediterranean, with the state-owned company Sonatrach launching a sweeping inspection of more than 3,500 kilometres of gas pipelines.
The project, spanning 3,576 kilometres, is designed to identify vulnerable sections of the network, strengthen export reliability, and ensure the smooth delivery of gas to European markets that remain heavily reliant on Algerian supplies.
“This vast operation serves as a life-size health check of Algeria’s energy arteries,” a Sonatrach source said, underlining the government’s determination to anticipate both technical and commercial challenges.
The work includes comprehensive topographical surveys, systematic pipe cleaning, and advanced technology capable of detecting even the tiniest cracks invisible to the human eye. Any weak point in the network risks disrupting exports and undermining Algeria’s economic lifeline.
To carry out the project, Algiers has turned to Beijing. A Chinese consortium led by Shenglong Oil and Gas Pipeline Inspection Technology Co., Ltd., affiliated with Sinopec, and the China Petroleum Technology and Development Corporation has been awarded a 24-month contract.
The Chinese firms will provide digital mapping of the pipelines while also training Algerian teams in data processing and analysis.
This transfer of skills is expected to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign contractors and strengthen its technological independence over the long term.
“This collaboration gives Algeria a dual advantage,” a Sonatrach official noted.
“We gain access to world-class technical expertise, while also equipping our local workforce with the knowledge to manage these systems in the future.”
The partnership highlights China’s expanding role in Algeria’s energy sector at a time when export reliability is a strategic priority.
By modernising its infrastructure and adopting advanced monitoring systems, Algiers is consolidating its role as a key regional supplier while preparing for the demands of an increasingly competitive global gas market.
Each kilometre inspected, officials stress, is an added guarantee for international partners and a safeguard for Algeria’s economic stability.
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