Militants Fire Rockets at Algerian BP/Statoil Gas Plant

No casualties or damage were reported in the Algerian gas plant attack.

The Krechba gas plant that was attacked, on the In Salah gas field in Algeria’s Sahara Desert. (Photo: AP)

Militants attacked an Algerian gas plant operated by Norway’s Statoil and BP with rocket-propelled grenades on Friday, causing no casualties or damage but forcing the facility to be closed as a precaution.

Algeria’s energy infrastructure is heavily protected by the army, especially since the 2013 Islamist militant attack on the In Amenas gas plant, also operated by BP and Statoil, in which 40 oil workers were killed.

Statoil said in a statement that the In Salah gas facility was hit by explosive munitions from a distance.

In the early morning, three or four rocket propelled grenades hit a central processing facility, there were no casualties or damage reported.

<b>An industry source</b>

The Algerian army were controlling the area and pursuing the attackers. BP said in a statement that the facility had been closed down as a safety precaution.