Sonatrach CEO: Algerian Gas Exports to Spain Not Diverted to Morocco

According to Toufik Hakkar’s statements, "until today, the destination of Algerian gas exported has not been transferred to another country, and if this were to happen, Sonatrach is fully entitled to take the necessary measures." The CEO of Sonatrach is thus alluding to Morocco, to which Algeria has stopped supplying gas by not renewing the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline (GME) crossing the kingdom, whose contract expired on October 31. Algiers, which continues to supply gas to Spain through the Medgaz pipeline that directly connects it to the Iberian Peninsula, had threatened to terminate its contract with Spain if it resells gas to Morocco via the GME.

"Any transportation of Algerian natural gas delivered to Spain, the destination of which is none other than that provided for in the contracts, will be considered a breach of contractual commitments, and consequently, could lead to the termination of the contract linking Sonatrach to its Spanish customers," the Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mines had stated in a press release.

This threat had been brandished after the Algerian Minister of Energy, Mohamed Arkab, was informed "by email, by his Spanish counterpart, Teresa Ribera, of Spain’s decision to authorize the reverse flow of the Maghreb Europe Gas Pipeline (GME)".