Algeria will focus next year on maximizing output at its mature fields, and seek out foreign partners with the technology to explore offshore opportunities as part of its strategy to increase output, a senior energy official told Reuters.

The North African OPEC producer has struggled to increase oil and gas production and attract foreign oil investment in recent auctions. Last month, it postponed another energy bidding round because the slump in oil prices.

Sonatrach state energy company Vice President Salah Mekmouche told local El Khabar newspaper the company would focus next year on developing more from older fields like Hassi Massoud, Hasi Berkine, and Illizi southwest and east.

He said national production of oil and gas was expected to close 2015 at around 190m tonnes of oil equivalent.