Total SA (NYSE: TOT) announced on March 29 first gas from the Timimoun Field in southwestern Algeria—a country where the French oil major has a history of operating in for more than six decades.

Total: Algeria Asset Map

The Timimoun production complex has a capacity at plateau of around 5 million cubic meters per day of natural gas, or around 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), Total said. The field is jointly operated by Sonatrach (51%), Total (37.75%) and Cepsa (11.25%).

Timimoun's gas will be produced with 37 wells connected to a gas processing facility that ties into the GR5 pipeline used to transport gas from fields in southwestern Algeria to Hassi R’mel, according to the company press release.

"The launch of Timimoun is a new step in the group’s history in Algeria, where we are a long-term partner. Achieved within the planned budget, the project will contribute to Total’s production growth in 2018," Arnaud Breuillac, president of E&P at Total, said in a statement.

Total’s E&P activities in Algeria date back to 1952, the release said. In addition to Timimoun, the company holds a stake in the Tin Fouyé Tabankort (TFT), El-Merk, Hassi Berkine and Ourhoud fields within the country.