National crude oil production fell by 9% at the end of May 2023 compared with the same period in 2022, to 652 kt (kilotonnes), according to the monthly report on the energy situation in May 2023, published on Friday by the National Observatory of Energy and Mines.
This fall affected most of the main fields, namely Halk el Manzel, which came on stream in 2021 (-46%), El Borma (-17%), Ashtart (-14%), M.L.D (-31%), Cherouq (-28%), Ouedzar (-24%), Fanig/Bag/Tarfa (-19%), Adam (-9%), El Hajeb/Guebiba (-5%) and Miskar (-9%).
Other fields, however, recorded an improvement in production, namely Nawara (+51%), Gherib (+29%) and Cercina (+34%).
Average daily oil production fell from 36.9 thousand barrels/d at the end of May 2022 to 33.8 thousand barrels/d at the end of May 2023.
//Gas resources down by 8%.
Natural gas resources (national production + tax package) were also down by 8% at the end of May 2023, to 1138 ktoe (kilotonnes of oil equivalent).
Production of dry commercial gas decreased by 11% and the royalty on the passage of Algerian gas also fell by 2% to 416 ktoe.
Besides, the breakdown of the total royalty between the royalty ceded to STEG and the royalty exported shows that the largest part is ceded to STEG (55%).
In January 2023, STEG’s deductions from the royalties due to the Tunisian State were exceeded, a situation that is being regularised.
The flat-rate tax on the transit of Algerian gas dropped considerably during the first half of 2020, as the pandemic that hit Europe, and Italy in particular, had a major impact on demand for energy, and consequently on the quantity of gas transiting from Algeria to Italy via Tunisia.
Nevertheless, there has been an improvement since July 2020, which has continued throughout 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Purchases of Algerian gas were down by 6% between the end of May 2022 and the end of May 2023, to 851 ktoe.
National supplies of natural gas fell by 10% to 1,803 ktoe.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse