ALGERIA ALGERIAN SAHARA OIL INDUSTRY PROFILE

>> YOUR LINK HERE: ___ http://youtube.com/watch?v=0DxUo2wb5sY

(1 May 1997) Eng/French/Nat • • Algerian authorities have granted APTV exclusive access to the country's economic lifeline - the oil fields of the Sahara. • • In a land stricken by an undeclared civil war and years of bureaucratic mismanagement, the oil industry is crucial to Algeria's future. • • But with revenues today papering over cracks in the shattered economy, Algerians have yet to feel the benefit of the wealth lying beneath the sands. • • It's a two-hour plane journey from the capital, but the oilfields of the Sahara are at the centre of Algeria's plans for the future. • • Gas flares in the desert mark the site of crude reserves estimated at 4 (b) billion tonnes: Algeria, two-thirds the size of the United States, is sitting on an ocean of oil. • • Security is high. Despite the miles of desert surrounding the drilling fields, officials are acutely aware of the risk of sabotage. • • The government's five-year struggle with armed Islamic militants has claimed tens of thousands of lives and shattered the economy. • • Possible terrorist targets, foreign technicians working in the oil fields are flown in directly from Europe. Even the nearest local town is off-limits for men like Garry Forsyth. • • SOUNDBITE: (English) • Safety-wise, they're very safety conscious. They make sure we have high security to make sure there's no trouble... like, Algeria has got some troubles, but we haven't seen any sign of it. I know our orders from Canada are if we don't feel safe, we're to take off right away, and we've had no problem with that at all. • SUPER CAPTION: Garry Forsyth, Senior Oil Technician • • Terrorist incidents in the oil fields have been few - a blessing for Algeria's government which relies on oil revenues estimated at 1 (b) billion dollars yearly to keep the economy afloat. • • Oil revenues represent 95 per cent of Algeria's total exports - and the government is anxious to boost production. • • To counterbalance the risks of working in one of the world's most dangerous countries, Algeria's state oil company is pushing for legislation to make the country more attractive to foreign oil companies. • • SOUNDBITE: (English) • I think that our major rule about cooperation and joint venture activities in the oil and gas business in Algeria - the famous law signed in August 1986 - is to this day considered one of the most attractive in the world. • SUPER CAPTION: Zemine Zouioueche, CEO, SONATRACH (Algerian State Oil Company • • But the road to oil-based prosperity has been a rocky one. • • A famously inefficient bureaucracy rules over the remnants of Algeria's state-run economy. • • With political life thrown into turmoil by the war with the Islamic militants, efforts at reform have foundered. • • Few dare openly criticise the regime. But equally few think they are getting their fair share of the oil wealth. • • SOUNDBITE: (French) • Yes, oil workers do have a reputation for being better off. But I don't believe we are as well paid as you might think. • SUPER CAPTION: Hamid Ettouahria, oil worker • • Algeria is pinning hopes on parliamentary elections in June to settle the crisis paralysing the nation. • • If they bring political accord and an end to the war, the elections might unlock the revolutionary economic potential of the oil. • • If not, hopes of a better future will again go up in smoke. • • Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork • Twitter: / ap_archive • Facebook: / aparchives • Instagram: / apnews • • • You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

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