Algiers announced its first oil and natural gas find of the year on November 9^th . . . German firm  E.ON Ruhrgas discovered the new reserves in collaboration with Algerian state-run Sonatrach . . . the extent of the reserves have not yet been verified . . . Algeria  ranks 16^th in oil reserves, 8^th in natural gas reserves, and is the 4^th largest exporter of natural gas in the world . . . Despite the discoveries of oil and gas, recent activity by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) along Algeria’s southern border, including kidnapping aid workers, is likely to delay deter foreign investment in Algerian oil and gas development projects.