Statoil, BHP Billiton to Bid For LNG Plant in Algeria

Australian mining and energy group BHP Billiton joined Norway's oil major Statoil and South Africa's PetroSA plan to take part in a tender for a $3 billion gas-to-liquids plant in Algeria, Statoil said on Monday.

Statoil and PetroSA delivered a technical proposal earlier this year for the project.

A final bid, including economic aspects, is due by end of June next year.

BHP said on Monday that it was in talks with Statoil and PetroSA over a joint bid.

Gas-to-liquids technology processes natural gas into oil products, including low-sulphur diesel that meets strict European Union and U.S. environmental rules.

It would be the first plant of its kind in Algeria and the first for Statoil.