The attributions relating to regulation and control of the environment are conferred upon the Ministry in charge of the environment pursuant to the regulation in force. However, the Ministry of Energy and Mines is directly involved in the application under the responsibility of the national regulation on environment in taking part to its preparation and implementation.

The law n° 01-10 of 3 July 2001 on mining act instituted a National Agency of Geology and Mining Control, this autonomous administrative authority is charged inter alia of:

• the control of the respect of mining art (optimal recovery of the mineral resources and rules of hygiene and safety as well public as industrial)
• the control of the mining activities so as to preserve the environment, in accordance with the provisions and standards envisaged by the legislation and the regulation in force.

The commission of regulation of electricity and gas (CREG), created under the terms of the law n° 02-01 of February 5 2002 related to the electricity and the distribution of gas by pipes, is charged to ensure the observance of the technical, economic and environmental regulation, the consumer protection, the transparency of the transactions and the non-discrimination between operators.

A central department (HSE) has been created at the level of the Sonatrach group for the drawing up of procedures and standards in the field of environment, security and quality of life and their enforcement. The whole issues of the sector concerning the environment are directly taken in charge by the central administration of the Ministry and the follow up of these questions is ensured on the level of the operational branches of the Sonatrach group and Sonatrach group's subsidiaries (NAFTEC, NAFTAL, ENIP) and the other companies of the sector by the concerned structures (environment unit/security and environment committee).

The operators within the sector listed entered in their objectives, the setting up of a quality and environment management system.