Stormy weather keeps Algeria's Skikda gas plant port partially shut: source

ALGIERS (Reuters) - Rough weather is still partially closing one port serving Algeria's Skikda liquefied natural gas plant, said a source at the terminal, where traders last week said exports have fallen sharply due to a partial shutdown. Trading sources said on Friday the 9.2 million tonnes per year Skikda liquefaction plant appeared to have stopped exporting LNG on Jan. 7 with only intermittent activity since, but the reason was unclear. Algeria's state-run Sonatrach did not respond to requests seeking comment. "In Skikda, you have two ports. One is for energy products. It is closed because of bad weather. The second is for all types of shipments, including energy products, it is still open," one source working at Skikda's port told Reuters. Live ship-tracking on Reuters Eikon on Friday showed no ships currently listed as bound for Skikda. Arzew port has 16.3 million-tonnes-per-year of export capacity. One shipping source said last week storm weather and high waves in the Mediterranean had prevented ships approaching.