Feb. 5 - ENI and the Algerian state company Sonatrach launched, on Jan. 31, a gas production program from the Menzel Ledjmet East (MLE) field, located in Block 405b, about 1000 km south of Algiers and jointly operated by Eni and Sonatrach. In the field, there is a system that allows the processing of rich gas for the daily production and sale of 9 million cubic meters of gas, 15,000 barrels of oil and 12,000 barrels of LPG. The project is finally up and running, after 4 years since ENI’s acquisition, in December 2008, of the Canadian company First Calgary Petroleum, which owns block 405b. ENI has been present in Algeria since 1981, participating in 24 exploration and development licenses and in 8 permits under development. In 2012, ENI was the first manufacturer in the country with a daily equity production of approximately 80,000 barrels of oil equivalent. With the start of production of the field of MLE and other projects, ENI is thus strengthening its presence in the country, and will most likely achieve a daily equity production of 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent.

ENI BETWEEN COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

Eni's strategy in Africa is to consolidate and expand its position through sustainable projects designed to create value for their stakeholders and the countries involved. Today, Eni is present in 15 African countries and is the leading oil company in terms of production, with about one million barrels of oil per day. Given the large investment program planned for the next four years, production is expected to grow significantly in the near future. In North Africa, Eni is the leading foreign producer in Egypt, Libya, Algeria and Tunisia, while in sub-Saharan Africa, a region in which it has been active since the early ‘60s, the company is present in the main producing countries, such as Angola, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, and has exploration interests in Gabon, Ghana, Mali and Mozambique. Eni has approximately 20.000 employees on the continent.