Several weeks of discontent later, nothing seems to alter the inhabitants’ determination. The day following the official opening of the first well, they unbridled their anger and launched a series of protest.

At the Echams NGO for the protection of Environment at In Salah, in the wilaya of Tamanrasset, Abdelkader Bouhafs is furious: “The drilling of the shale gas well has been launched without the consent of notabilities, nor the representatives of the civil society from In Salah. Works have started unannounced and in absolute discretion. The experimental site was opened officially by the energy minister who did not judge necessary to hear what the population had to say and even less what they feared for their region where environment is barren and ecologically fragile. People here are fully are of the risks taken in shale gas production.” Mr Bouhafs added: “They well know that authorities try out an experimental project which in the end will benefit foreign countries only and will leave In Salah to deal with the environmental calamity”.

Abdelkader echoes several thousand voices which raised opposition against the hydro fracking process which has been adopted to produce shale gas less than thirty kilometres of cultivated land and rural facilities.

The technics raises many environmental risks, according to experts with water and soil pollution, mini earthquake… The people in the South fear the impact on their environment, their health and that of their children.

The protests have been initiated by over 20 NGOs active in the Big South provinces and have gathered more and more popular support.

For the first time in this part of the country, the population claims for its ‘share’ of the region’s development but also it questions the environmental issue.

The civil society says ‘no’ to shale gas production and deep-earth exploitation. It calls for the immediate stop of drilling activities as well as new laws ensuring a moratorium and a strict regulatory framework on this type of production. Further, they seek the possibility to forbid such drilling on the whole territory of the wilaya.

“In Salah’s inhabitants did not know what was going on there, in this new gas site. We thought it was yet another of this oil drilling we’re used to here. Workers there would have been taught to shut up and surround themselves with silence so that local folks would not learn anything. This is only after the lightning speed visit of the energy minister and his suite that we learned about the full situation. What’s even more serious is the site in question is located just on the outskirt of the water table of Tidikelt. Obviously they planned to access easily the water table to pump up the water they need for hydro fracking and that to the detriment of people’s needs. Really, we can’t accept that! We’re not going to shut up. We plan to have more protest, with our women, our children and old people so that our rights are vindicated as well as our legitimate demands. We’re ready to go further should they continue to ignore us » threatens Mr Bouhas. Authorities so far have remained silent.

In Salah people demonstrated through the New Year 2015 and streets were occupied. The city since then sits on a barrel of powder.

Daily sits in happen in front of the daïra’s headquarters. People occasionally blocked the highway RN1 linking Ghardaia to Tamanrasset. The clumsy attempts of the authorities failed to calm the high spirits and bring back calm and order in a city once well known for its peace.

«Protesters call for immediate stop of the experiments without preliminary negotiation,’ explains Abdelkader. He reveals that contrary to the official line, it is indeed «the French oil company Total which has planned the drilling programme, in turn implemented by the national company Sonatrach together with ETNP and Schlumberger, as these two companies master the fracking technology».

Ibba Boubekeur is the secretary of the NGO protecting victims of nuclear tests in In Eker; he too warns against the dangers and various risks that are truly threatening the people of the Tidekelt and of the Ahaggar. «Algeria is no better that the USA. The USA gathered a strong experience in shale gas production’. Boubekeur said. France does not have that experience as in France; hydro fracking has been publicly opposed because of its negative impact on the environment and on public health. One must understand that to access the trapped gas, the rocks have to be fracked, cracked with large amount of water under high pressure and mixed with highly toxic additives. These are a source of cancers one must add to the even longer list of fears and consequences of hydro fracking. Neighbours are exposed to high risks and ecological prejudice that cannot be measured. The State must think again and stop this before situation turns into a scandal.’ concluded Mr Ibba.