Methane Leaks
Oil & gas · 5 Jan 2026

Methane plume detected in Algeria

On 5 Jan 2026, the Landsat - NASA/USGS satellite saw methane escaping at about 3,962 kg/h from an oil & gas site.

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

3,962 kg/h
± 1,386 kg/h (UNEP uncertainty)

If it continued at this rate for 24 hours it would release about 95.1 tonnes of methane.

Detected
5 Jan 2026 · 09:51 UTC
Satellite
Landsat - NASA/USGS
Sector
Oil & gas
Wind
Plume drifting towards the NE · 3.0 m/s
Coordinates
28.12799, 9.37324
Open in Google Maps (satellite)
UNEP plume ID
ec4f36b7-4e15-4acc-9e51-53ae53d4bf8d

Likely operator

Sonatrach Plausible

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

Emitting site

DZA_S_368 · Gas disposal facility
10 plumes detected at this site

Status

UNEP has not recorded a notification for this plume.

Nobody has reported contacting the operator through Methane Leaks yet.

Push for action

Find the operator's contact details and send a ready-made, evidence-based email in about two minutes.

Write to the operator →

Authorities you can notify

Is this attribution wrong?

If you operate this site, or know who does, tell us. Operators get a right of reply, and corrections are reviewed within a week.

Get alerts for DZA_S_368

We'll email you when UNEP publishes new plumes here. No account needed. Unsubscribe in one click.

We only use your email to send these alerts.

Cite as: UNEP IMEO MARS plume ec4f36b7-4e15-4acc-9e51-53ae53d4bf8d, via Methane Leaks (https://www.methaneleaks.com/plume/ec4f36b7-4e15-4acc-9e51-53ae53d4bf8d), accessed 4 Oct 2026.