ALGERIA'S state-owned energy company Sonatrach has set aside $1.8 billion to address the safety and the environmental impact of its oil and gas pipelines, it was reported recently. Speaking at an event in Algeria in early January, Sonatrach's chairman Mohammed Mezhan said that the funds would be used to ensure the safety of people living close to pipelines and to protect and rehabilitate environments close to infrastructure. Sontach has already announced plans to extend the length of its domestic oil and gas pipeline network from 16,200km to 21,500km by 2011.