The same source pointed out that Algeria relies on earnings from oil and gas production, which account for around 60 percent of the state budget and 95 percent of total exports, despite steps to diversify the economy.
Gas and crude oil production declined 0.5 percent in the first three months against the same period in 2015, according to the Statistics Office of Algeria, but it gave no actual volumes.
It also said liquefied natural gas production was up 21.5 percent, while its output of refined oil products was up 5 percent.
Sonatrach aims to increase oil output to 69 million tonnes in 2016, against 67 million tonnes last year, and expects gas production to rise to 132.2 billion cubic metres (bcm) from 128.3 bcm in 2015.
Adel Ben Guessoum
