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* In Amenas plant patched up after January attack
* Algeria says security in place for foreigners to return
* New helicopter pad, permanent military post part of plan
By Lamine Chikhi
TIGUENTOURINE, Algeria, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Blast charredwalls have been repainted and bullet holes plastered over at theIn Amenas gas plant, as Algeria tries to tempt foreign oilworkers back to the Sahara.
But the black commemorative plaque listing 40 victims ofIslamist militants there keeps the memory alive of the Januaryattack that shook investors' faith in Algeria's oil and gassector.
Officials at the Tiguentourine gas plant in Amenas point totighter security, a new helicopter landing pad to allow safertransport and a permanent military presence.
"Helicopters patrol the area, and military are everywhereall around the site, even if they are not visible to you," anAlgerian official said.
But Algeria has joined neighbouring Libya and Egypt, bothcaught up in political upheaval, as a tough sell to foreignenergy firms. The region's cost to reward ratios is lessappealing than elsewhere and Islamist militants threaten moreattacks across North Africa.
The Maghreb has been shaken by instability since the 2011Arab Spring revolts. Islamist militants tied to al Qaeda havegained ground, especially in the chaos of post-revolution Libya.
The Amenas attack was a surprise for Algeria, a top gassupplier to Europe, an oil-producing OPEC member and a U.S. allyin the fight against al Qaeda. Its security forces have years ofexperience battling Islamist militants.
A senior Algerian official at Amenas said the new securityplan had been discussed with executives from BP andStatoil, partners in the plant, who said they needguarantees and a reinforced security presence before workersreturn.
The Norwegian company released a report last month saying ithad missed a string of warning signs prior to the attack. TheBritish oil major has said it was impossible to predict theattack.
The British ambassador to Algiers said in September that BPworkers could return soon, without giving details. The companyhas said it would only support the return of contractors "if andwhen" it is satisfied with security.
MILITARY PRESENCE
During a recent visit to the site, a couple of soldiers anda policeman were visible, and a light tank was posted in theentry gate. Algerian workers using bicycles moved around theplant wearing blue uniforms.
To reach the gas facility, visitors must pass through threemilitary checkpoints, then to access the site visitors must waitfor an escort, and finally get identification before entry.
The senior Algerian official said a new helicopter landingfacility would allow foreign workers to fly into the siteinstead of making the 50 km drive from nearby In Amenas airport.
"The landing facility will be inaugurated in November, andwe expect foreign workers to be back before the end of thisyear, likely in December," one official said asking his name notbe used because he was unauthorised to speak to the press.
More than 800 Algerians work on the site now. Some 120foreigners used to work at Tiguentourine's gas plant.
"We will never forget what happened, the faces of my foreigncolleagues still haunt me," said one source. "We believe thataround 50 foreign workers will be back before the end of thisyear."
Algerian gas workers were keen to show how they hadsucceeded to bring back gas production without the assistance oftheir foreign colleagues.
"We are currently producing 16 million cubic meters per daybut we will go up to 25 mln next month after a maintenanceperiod ends," a facility official told Reuters.
He said only two of the plant's four trains are currentlyworking.
Gas burning is visible, evidence the plant is back tobusiness, say workers.
"Executives who visited the site after the attack wereimpressed by the job done by the Algerian technicians, who fixedthe damage and resumed production," the source said. "That was achallenge. But now we need our foreign colleagues to come backbecause we are partners here."
