Algeria’s state-run oil company, Sonatrach, has resumed liquefied natural gas (LNG) production from its Skikda plant after the completion of maintenance works, according to Reuters.

Operations restarted on July 16 and the downtime did not adversely impact the country’s output and exports. The fallout from the Skikda Plant closure was compensated by an increase in production at Arzew. 

A delegation from Sonatrach also examined the Skikda oil port expansion project. This is seen as a vital project in terms of the company’s expansion by allowing the loading of large LNG tankers to export gas to the Asian market. The project also aims to export petrochemical products from the industrial compound as well. 

Sonatrach shut down operations in December 2019 for what was expected to be a two month period of maintenance.