Sonatrach has signed a contract with the Chinese company China Petroleum engineering Corp. (CPECC) for the realization of new boosting units of Alrar gas field, located in the Illizi Basin.

The contract aims to compensate for the drop in pressure and maintain production from the Alrar gas field at 10 million standard cubic meters per day (scm/d), according to Sonatrach’s press release.

The contract entails the Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of three compression trains, the modification of the intake and inlet separation manifolds at the level of the slug catchers, the installation of booster pumps, the tie-ins with the existing installations and utilities, extension of the fire network and anti-intrusion and remote monitoring systems.

It also includes the construction of an electrical substation and the upgrading of the existing ICSS integrated control and security system.

The completion time for this project is 32 months with commissioning scheduled by the second quarter of 2027.