Maghreb gas search: Libya accelerates, Algeria hesitates

Libyas new gas round showed just how keen IOCs are to explore despite the Jamahiriyas opaque and sometimes difficult business environment. Algeria has a more established gas industry but its leaders seem more cautious still about encouraging major new E&P initiatives. Jon Marks in Algiers and John Hamilton in Tripoli ask whether gas-hungry Europe will secure reserves from major Maghrebi producers as quickly as EU leaders would like.