Arzew-Bethioua LNG Terminal

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Arzew-Bethioua LNG Terminal is an operating liquefied natural gas export terminal in Oran Province, Algeria.

Location

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Project Details

GL4Z

• Owner: Sonatrach
• Location: Bethioua, Bethioua District, Oran Province, Algeria
• Coordinates: 35.80452, -0.24097 (exact)
• Capacity: 0.9 mtpa (0.3 mtpa per train)
• Status: Retired
• Type: Export
• Trains: 3
• Start Year: 1964

GL1Z

• Owner: Sonatrach
• Operator: Sonatrach
• Location: Bethioua, Bethioua District, Oran Province, Algeria
• Coordinates: 35.80452, -0.24097 (exact)
• Capacity: 7.92 mtpa (1.32 mtpa per train)
• Status: Operating
• Type: Export
• Trains: 6
• Start Year: 1978

GL2Z

• Owner: Sonatrach
• Operator: Sonatrach
• Location: Bethioua, Bethioua District, Oran Province, Algeria
• Coordinates: 35.80452, -0.24097 (exact)
• Capacity: 8.22 mtpa (1.37 mtpa per train)
• Status: Operating
• Type: Export
• Trains: 6
• Start Year: 1981

GL3Z

• Owner: Sonatrach
• Operator: Sonatrach
• Location: Bethioua, Bethioua District, Oran Province, Algeria
• Coordinates: 35.80452, -0.24097 (exact)
• Capacity: 4.7 mtpa
• Status: Operating
• Type: Export
• Trains: 1
• Start Year: 2014
  • Formerly 2013

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.

Arzew GL4Z

The Arzew GL4Z facility had three 0.3-mtpa liquefaction trains, for a total of 0.9 mtpa. It was built in 1964. Arzew GL4Z was the world's first LNG export terminal (previously known as Camel), making Algeria the world's first country to export LNG.

It was shut down in 2010 due to its age.

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. 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.

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.

Arzew GL3Z expansion

Arzew GL3Z is a new single liquefaction train, with 4.7 mtpa capacity.

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.

Algeria LNG history

Algeria has been exporting LNG for over 40 years, since 1964, when its first terminal began operations. 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. Algeria's LNG sector went from exporting 25.68 bcm in 2005 to only 15 bcm in 2013. 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. In recent years, exports have stabilized in the rage of 14 to 16 bcm per year.

In 2023, Algeria occupied "the first place in Africa as the largest importer of LNG for the first time since 2010, thus overtaking Nigeria." 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).