Algeria Pledges Continued Gas Supply to Spain Amid Morocco Tensions

"Algeria is a first-rate energy partner for Spain. It has always been a reliable partner that has respected its commitments and has reassured me about the continuity of gas supply," José Manuel Albares said at a press conference held on Thursday after his meeting with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune at the Al Moradia Palace, which was also attended by his counterpart Ramtane Lamamra, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, the President of Enagas, Antoni Llardén, and the CEO of Naturgy, Antonio Bassolas.

The Spanish Foreign Minister made this first official visit to Algeria to strengthen energy cooperation between the two countries and seek with his "partner" avenues of solutions to the current gas shortages in order to ensure "a beneficial supply for all parties," reports 20minutos.

The rupture in August of diplomatic relations between Algeria and Morocco had a direct impact on Spain’s supply of Algerian gas via the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline (GME), as Algeria has waived the renewal of the operating contract for this pipeline, which expires at the end of October.

The migration issue was also on the agenda of this meeting due to the increase in the arrival in Spain of small boats from the Algerian coasts. The two parties did not fail to discuss the Sahara, in connection with the recent decision of the European Union court to cancel the fisheries and agriculture agreements between the EU and Morocco, a decision that the Algerian Foreign Minister described as a "victory" for the Sahrawi people.