Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 18 May 2026

Methane plume detected in Algeria

On 18 May 2026, the Landsat - NASA/USGS satellite saw methane escaping at about 685 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

685 kg/h
± 390 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 16.4 tonnes of methane.

Detected
18 May 2026 · 10:08 UTC
Satellite
Landsat - NASA/USGS
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the SW · 4.9 m/s
Coordinates
30.89107, 5.6145
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
b9fc89c7-7b89-4178-9d0a-3eff0459b7b8

Likely operator

Sonatrach Plausible

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

Emitting site

DZA_S_410 · Gas disposal facility
2 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 b9fc89c7-7b89-4178-9d0a-3eff0459b7b8, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/b9fc89c7-7b89-4178-9d0a-3eff0459b7b8), accessed 5 Oct 2026.