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Algeria intends to begin developing an infrastructure for the sale of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel to ships, according to media reports. Ahmed Messili, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Energy, is reported to have confirmed the plans.

The African country's LNG bunkering project is said to have been examined during an international seminar on LNG as a marine fuel held on Monday, October 27 in Algiers, organised by the country's main bunker supplier and distributor of petroleum products, Naftal.

Messili is cited as saying that LNG is an "emerging technology" for which the growth prospects are particularly "promising" for Algeria - one of the world's leading producers of LNG.

Samir Houghlaouen, an official at Naftal, is said to have noted that the future of LNG is positive in view of the growing use of natural gas in global maritime transport.

Houghlaouen is also said to have indicated that the actions taken to protect the environment in the global shipping business had helped to establish an international consensus on the need to implement strict rules to protect the maritime areas, which would increase the market share for clean fuels in the bunkering of vessels.

Due to its geographic position and the extent of its coastline on the Mediterranean Sea, Algeria has to work to emerge as a leading player in the bunkering of ships using LNG, Houghlaouen is cited as saying.