Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 3 Jan 2026

Methane plume detected in Algeria

On 3 Jan 2026, the Landsat - NASA/USGS satellite saw methane escaping at about 3,108 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

Satellite map of methane plume locations in Algeria
Map imagery © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap © MaxarOpen the interactive map →

3,108 kg/h
± 1,269 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 74.6 tonnes of methane.

Detected
3 Jan 2026 · 10:03 UTC
Satellite
Landsat - NASA/USGS
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the N · 5.2 m/s
Coordinates
28.60669, 7.51411
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
57ee6d8b-2b88-4473-91c4-a9935c131c0a

Likely operator

Sonatrach Plausible

State company Sonatrach operates or co-operates nearly all Algerian fields and pipelines.

Emitting site

DZA_S_031 · Flare
41 plumes detected at this site

Status

UNEP notified the government about this plume.

Nobody has reported contacting the operator through Methane Leaks yet.

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Cite as: UNEP IMEO MARS plume 57ee6d8b-2b88-4473-91c4-a9935c131c0a, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/57ee6d8b-2b88-4473-91c4-a9935c131c0a), accessed 4 Oct 2026.