Spain Awaits Decision on Crucial Algeria-Europe Gas Pipeline as Deadline Looms

"The GME contract remains in force until October 31. No final decision has yet been made... When I was in Algiers, nothing specific was indicated to me in this regard. [...] There is nothing official for the moment," said the head of Spanish diplomacy in an interview with the newspaper El Periodico. According to him, what is important for the Spaniards is that the gas supply is guaranteed and that Algeria will meet Spain’s demand for gas. "I have received all the guarantees that Algeria will respect the agreed contracts," he said.

On Sunday, the Algerian president assured that his country has not yet decided on the renewal of the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline (GME). "No decision has yet been made in this regard," Abdelmadjid Tebboune said in an interview broadcast by ENTV. Also, he added that Algeria will continue to pump gas through GME until the end of the current contract.

In the event of the maintenance of the GME, Algiers will impose conditions on Rabat. "There is no intention of giving gifts to Morocco. If he wants to buy Algerian gas, he must pay the price in force on the international market," estimates an Algerian expert on energy issues with TSA. In other words, Rabat will no longer benefit from a cheap supply of Algerian gas through the GME.