Algeria Considers Boosting Gas Exports to Europe Amid Ukraine Crisis

Sonatrach is "a reliable supplier of gas for the European market and is willing to support its long-term partners in difficult situations," Toufik Hakkar told the daily Liberté. Europe is the "natural market of predilection" for Algeria, which currently contributes 11% to its gas imports, the CEO of the Algerian public hydrocarbon giant pointed out, specifying that Sonatrach "has unused capacity on the Transmed pipeline" which could be used to "increase supplies to the European market". This pipeline has the capacity to transport up to 32 billion cubic meters per year, four times more than the Medgaz pipeline that supplies Spain.

By expressing its willingness to export more gas to Europe, Algeria could also consider reactivating the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline (GME) crossing Morocco and linking Algiers to Madrid if its partners express the demand or if it intends to lower tensions somewhat with its western neighbor with whom it has cut ties since August 24. Algeria was supplying Spain, Portugal and Morocco with 13.5 billion m³ of gas per year via the GME. The kingdom was only receiving a portion of this quantity: 800 million to 1 billion m³ per year, in addition to transit rights.