Arzew-Bethioua LNG Terminal
| Part of the Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker, a Global Energy Monitor project. |
Arzew-Bethioua LNG Terminal is an LNG export terminal in Algeria with units that are operating and retired.
Location
Table 1: Location details
| Name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| GL1Z | Bethioua, Bethioua, Oran, Algeria[1][2][3][4] | 35.80452, -0.24097 (exact) |
| GL2Z | Bethioua, Bethioua, Oran, Algeria[1][2][3][4] | 35.80452, -0.24097 (exact) |
| GL3Z | Bethioua, Bethioua, Oran, Algeria[1][2][3][4] | 35.80452, -0.24097 (exact) |
| GL4Z | Bethioua, Bethioua, Oran, Algeria[1][2][3][4] | 35.80452, -0.24097 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the terminal:
Project Details
Table 2: Infrastructure details
| Name | Facility type | Status | Capacity | Total terminal capacity | Offshore | Associated infrastructure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL1Z | export[5] | operating[5] | 7.9 mtpa | 21.7 mtpa | False | – |
| GL2Z | export[5] | operating[5] | 8.2 mtpa | 21.7 mtpa | False | – |
| GL3Z | export[6] | operating[7] | 4.7 mtpa | 21.7 mtpa | False | – |
| GL4Z | export[8] | retired[8] | 0.9 mtpa | 21.7 mtpa | False | – |
Table 3: Cost
| Name | Facility type | Cost | Total known terminal costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL1Z | export[5] | – | US$3,052,000,000 |
| GL2Z | export[5] | – | US$3,052,000,000 |
| GL3Z | export[6] | US$3,052,000,000 (2,800,000,000 EUR) | US$3,052,000,000 |
| GL4Z | export[8] | – | US$3,052,000,000 |
Financing
No financing data available.
Table 4: Project timeline
| Name | Facility type | Status | Proposal year | FID year | Construction year | Operating year | Inactive year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL1Z | export[5] | operating[5] | – | – | – | 1978[5] | – |
| GL2Z | export[5] | operating[5] | – | – | – | 1981[5] | – |
| GL3Z | export[6] | operating[7] | – | – | – | 2014[9][9][7] | – |
| GL4Z | export[8] | retired[8] | – | – | – | 1964[8] | 2010 (retired)[8] |
Ownership
Table 5: Ownership
| Name | Facility type | Status | Owners | Parent companies | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL1Z | export[5] | operating[5] | Sonatrach SpA [100%][6][10][11] | Sonatrach SpA [100.0%] | Sonatrach[6] |
| GL2Z | export[5] | operating[5] | Sonatrach SpA [100%][6][10][11] | Sonatrach SpA [100.0%] | Sonatrach[6] |
| GL3Z | export[6] | operating[7] | Sonatrach SpA [100%][6][10][11] | Sonatrach SpA [100.0%] | Sonatrach[6] |
| GL4Z | export[8] | retired[8] | Sonatrach SpA [100%][6][10][11] | Sonatrach SpA [100.0%] | Sonatrach[6] |
Background
Arzew/Bethioua LNG terminal consists of 13 natural gas liquefaction trains, with a total capacity of 20.8 million metric tons per year (mtpa), or 2.98 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd). It is owned by Sonatrach, an Algerian state-owned hydrocarbon resources company.
In March 2023, Sonatrach announced it would invest around US$1 billion in energy transition projects including flare gas recovery projects at the facility and Sonatrach Skikda LNG Terminal.[12]
Arzew GL4Z
The Arzew GL4Z facility had three 0.3-mtpa liquefaction trains, for a total of 0.9 mtpa.[13][14] It was built in 1964.[15] Arzew GL4Z was the world's first LNG export terminal (previously known as Camel)[16], making Algeria the world's first country to export LNG.[17][16]
It was shut down in 2010 due to its age.[18]
Bethioua GL1Z & GL2Z
The existing Bethioua GL1Z and GL2Z each have six 0.75-mtpa liquefaction trains, for a total of 12 mtpa; the total nominal capacity is 16.1 mtpa. GL1Z was built in 1978, and GL2Z in 1981.[15][19] When built, the Bethioua plant was the largest LNG export facility in the world.
GL1Z was repaired and renovated in 1991-97, helping relieve problems that had caused its capacity to be consistently under capacity.[20]
According to the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers' 2020 Annual Report, GL1-Z had a total nominal capacity of 7.9 mtpa and GL2Z had a total nominal capacity of 8.2 mtpa.[21]
Arzew GL3Z expansion
Arzew GL3Z is a new single liquefaction train, with 4.7 mtpa capacity.[22][23]
The project was started in 2008, and was completed in November 2014. It cost €2.8 billion, or about $3.8 billion. The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract was carried out by a joint venture of Italian firm Saipem and Japan's Chiyoda Corporation.[24][25]
Algeria LNG history
Algeria has been exporting LNG for over 40 years, since 1964, when its first terminal began operations.[26] Algeria's LNG exports peaked in 2005 and have since then experienced a downward trend. This decline has been attributed to several factors, both local and international.[26] Algeria's LNG sector went from exporting 25.68 bcm in 2005 to only 15 bcm in 2013.[26] However, from 2014 to 2018, exports showed a partial recovery, oscillating between 15 and 17 bcm per year, with a low of 13.5 bcm in 2018.[26] In recent years, exports have stabilized in the rage of 14 to 16 bcm per year.[26]
In 2023, Algeria occupied "the first place in Africa as the largest importer of LNG for the first time since 2010, thus overtaking Nigeria."[27] Algeria mainly exports LNG to Turkey (over 4.3 million tonnes per year), France (3.2 million tonnes), Italy (1.8 million tonnes), and Spain (1.4 million tonnes), and China (0.4 million tonnes).[27]
Articles and Resources
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of LNG terminals, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 https://www.google.com/maps/place/GNL+1/@35.8132986,-0.2713391,3962m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0xd7e0c8923448dc9:0xe2aa1706f07ee035!8m2!3d35.8127047!4d-0.2655253!16s%2Fg%2F11b5ymcl0l?entry=tts&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDYyMy4wKgBIAVAD.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 https://maps.app.goo.gl/gacn8LYoR8jxeNdM9.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 https://maps.app.goo.gl/HLbEfXHv5Ua6WLcm8.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 https://maps.app.goo.gl/XNqpjCAMdfomezuy8.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 (PDF) https://giignl.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/GIIGNL2022_Annual_Report_May24.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 "Annual Report 2021" (PDF). GIIGNL. 2021-11-01. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-01-25.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 (PDF) https://www.datocms-assets.com/146580/1736938123-igu-world-lng-report-2013-edition.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 https://www.woodmac.com/reports/lng-algeria-lng-arzew-plant-decommissioned-8457267/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 9.0 9.1 (PDF) https://www.datocms-assets.com/146580/1736938184-world-lng-report-2011-june-2012.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 (PDF) https://giignl.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GIIGNL-2024-Annual-Report-1.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/379370372_Algerian_gas_to_strengthen_energy_security_of_the_European_Union_Policy_capacity_and_strategy.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ GIIGNL. The LNG Industry: GIIGNL Annual Report 2023. July 14, 2023.
- ↑ "Chpt. 3 LNG Liquefaction Facilities". www.mcilvainecompany.com. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ↑ "Algeria the long player turns up the volume". Riviera. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Gordon Shearer & Michael Tusiani. LNG: A Nontechnical Guide. Tulsa: Pennwell, 2007, pp. 254-256.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Belgacem, Tahchi (March 2024). "Algerian gas to strengthen energy security of the European ?Union: Policy, capacity and strategy". Energy Reports. 11: 3600–3613 – via ResearchGate.
- ↑ Michot Foss, Michelle (June 2012). "Introduction to LNG" (PDF). Energy Economics Research University of Texas. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Algérie : mise en service du méga-train de liquéfaction GNL 3 à Arzew, EnergyMed, 17 Nov. 2014.
- ↑ The LNG Industry: Annual Report 2017, International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers, accessed June 2017.
- ↑ LNG1 Plant Revamping Project: Improvement and Debottlenecking, Sonatrach, 1998.
- ↑ The LNG Industry: Annual Report 2020, page 41, International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers, accessed April 29, 2020
- ↑ Arzew LNG Terminal, A Barrel Full, accessed April 2017.
- ↑ Arzew GNL 3Z LNG Plant Algeria, Global Energy Observatory, accessed June 2017.
- ↑ LNG Arzew Sonatrach, Mesit.com, accessed June 2017.
- ↑ Algeria: PM Inaugurates New Production Plant of LNG in Oran, AllAfrica, 10 Nov. 2014.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 Belkhadem, Benabbou, Ibtissem, Senouci (January 2024). "Analyzing the Algerian LNG Export: Comparative Benchmarking between Key Global Exporters". N/A. X – via ResearchGate.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Algérie Presse Service (28 January 2024). "Gaz naturel liquéfié: l'Algérie désormais premier exportateur en Afrique". Algérie Presse Service. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
