Algeria Threatens Gas Supply to Spain Amid Western Sahara Dispute

Spain’s decision to support Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara risks opening an energy crisis in Spain, which could no longer receive gas from Algeria, its main supplier. In 2021, Spain imported nearly 50% of Algerian gas via the Medgaz, recalls ABC, which points out that Algeria is the third largest gas supplier in Europe with 83% of exports, of which 65% to Spain and Italy in 2021, or 55 billion m3 against 38.2 billion m3 in 2020.

Algeria blames Spain for not having informed it of this decision, but the reality is that Algeria is a staunch defender of the Sahrawi people and a supporter of the Polisario Front, the other party to the conflict in the Sahara. In reaction to this decision by Spain, which it received with "surprise", Algeria recalled its ambassador to Madrid for consultations, and could decide in the coming weeks to no longer supply gas to Spain.