The Tigantourine gas site in In Amenas in Algeria’s Illizi province, which has been out of operation since the terrorist attack that targeted it on Jan. 16, is set to be operational again. Activity could resume as early as Feb. 24, on the 42nd anniversary of the nationalization of the oil and gas industry in Algeria. The announcement was made during the Fourth Symposium of the Algerian Association of Gas Industry (AIG) held on Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. During this symposium,  Abdelhamid Zerguine, the CEO of Algerian energy group Sonatrach, affirmed that work could "start just before Feb. 24."

This resumption will be made ​​possible by utilizing one of the three least damaged pumps. The terrorist attack, which was primarily orchestrated  by the head of the Masked Brigade, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, caused enormous damage, especially to pump No. 3. An inspection is under way in order to precisely assess the security gaps faced by the national oil company, Sonatrach, before carrying out appropriate repairs.

But the return to service of the site's first pump is imminent, since it meets all the required technical and security insurances. "We are ready to resume production on pump 1," operations manager Kamel Aoues insisted in February.

Under such circumstances, the plant will resume operations at only one-third of its overall capacity, or around 9 billion cubic meters [9.9 billion cubic yards] per year, according to recent statements issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mining.