The third upstream oil and gas round held by Alnaft, the state hydrocarbons licensing body created in 2005, has failed to improve on the poor performance of the first two rounds. Just two of the ten concessions on offer were licensed, one of those to government-owned Sonatrach, which won the contract for the Rhourde Fares concession in the Berkine basin. Cepsa, a Spanish energy company, won the other licence, for the Rhourde Rouni concession in the Sbâa basin (see table). Only four of 16 contracts were awarded in the first Alnaft round, held in December 2008 (Economic performance, January 2009) and just three of ten in second round, in December 2009 (Economic performance, January 2010).

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