Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 9 Jan 2026

Methane plume detected in Algeria

On 9 Jan 2026, the Landsat - NASA/USGS satellite saw methane escaping at about 5,249 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

5,249 kg/h
± 1,896 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 126 tonnes of methane.

Detected
9 Jan 2026 · 10:14 UTC
Satellite
Landsat - NASA/USGS
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the E · 3.4 m/s
Coordinates
32.38965, 4.01402
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
a1984239-ce0d-4ae6-9ea9-93cc2e6e4488

Likely operator

Sonatrach Plausible

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

Emitting site

DZA_S_317 · Gas disposal facility
5 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 a1984239-ce0d-4ae6-9ea9-93cc2e6e4488, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/a1984239-ce0d-4ae6-9ea9-93cc2e6e4488), accessed 5 Oct 2026.