Algeria stops progress on draft law for oil sector reform

The Algerian government has decided to stop progress on the draft law for oil and gas industry reforms.
The law, according to the source, would have ended the Algerian state-owned Sonatrach's monopoly of the domestic market and set up a regulatory entity to follow up on the implementation of technical and environmental regulations.

Another entity would be set up to award exploration and production contracts through international tenders, thus making Algeria more attractive to foreign investors.
Trade unions had been the main opponent of the draft law on the grounds that the bill would jeopardise Algeria's sovereignty over oil and gas resources.