Group Sonatrach will invest DZD91 billion at middle term in prevention, the security and the protection of environment, Minister of Energy, Youcef Yousfi, announced Thursday in Algiers.
"Group Sonatrach will also allocate DZD120 million to the disposal of industrial waste, liquid and drilling wastes," said the minister during the plenary session of the People’s National Assembly (APN- Lower House) devoted to the oral questions.
On a question on the measures taken to the redevelopment of the polluted areas of Ouargla due to intense activities of drilling and oil extraction, Yousfi said that the "protection of the environment will remain one the priorities of the Energy Ministry."
The law on hydrocarbon of 2013 includes rules on the protection of the environment, he said, stressing that these rules must be applied in the field of heath, industrial security and the prevention of major risks.
The Regulation Authority of Hydrocarbons, the minister said, closely follows the studies on the environment and compels the companies operating in this field to take preventive measures and make sure to manage the drilling-linked risks on the environment.
A new project will be launched soon by Sonatrach in the field of the protection of the environment in a view to tackling the problem of the non-productive wells, unveiled the minister.