Algerian Gas Plant: Miles from Nowhere but a BlackBerry Works Fine

Three days into the Algerian hostage crisis there are still many unknowns. One reason may be the extreme isolation of the gas plant located deep within the Saharan desert, nearly 1,000 miles from the capital Algiers.

Cavan McDonald, chief engineer of M.W. Kellogg, the company that designed and built the facility in Algeria, says that although the location is remote it is still well equipped with communications. He is frustrated by the lack of information coming out of the plant.

“To say that it’s the most remote place in the world is probably true but on the other hand it is extremely well equipped with communications,” says McDonald, “your blackberry will work fine.”