Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 16 Mar 2026

Methane plume detected in Algeria

On 16 Mar 2026, the Landsat - NASA/USGS satellite saw methane escaping at about 688 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

688 kg/h
± 544 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 16.5 tonnes of methane.

Detected
16 Mar 2026 · 10:02 UTC
Satellite
Landsat - NASA/USGS
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the SE · 8.6 m/s
Coordinates
29.59223, 6.91526
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
d4960a0a-1464-46b7-b6a8-f0e814b2f177

Likely operator

Sonatrach Plausible

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

Emitting site

DZA_S_386 · Gas disposal facility
9 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 d4960a0a-1464-46b7-b6a8-f0e814b2f177, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/d4960a0a-1464-46b7-b6a8-f0e814b2f177), accessed 6 Oct 2026.