Spain’s Gas Pipeline Reversal for Morocco Exposes Algerian Diplomatic Tensions

Algeria’s hypocrisy is laid bare. In an article titled "Six months ago, Algeria had agreed that Spain would become a transit station for American gas to Morocco," the Spanish newspaper El Español claimed that Algeria was not only consulted and informed by Madrid about the relaunch of the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline for Morocco’s energy needs, but it had also given its in-principle agreement for the implementation of this plan in Spain. An official source from the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition (Miteco) cited by the same newspaper made revelations about this secret agreement concluded between Spain and Algeria at the end of September, a few days before the announcement of the closure by Algiers of the GME through the non-renewal of the contract that expired on October 31.

"Algiers has known for nearly seven months that Spain would respond to Morocco’s demand to guarantee its energy security based on trade relations," explained this source, stating that Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares had traveled to Algiers on September 30, accompanied by the presidents of Naturgy, Francisco Reynés, and Enagás, Antoni Llardén, and that a month later, it was Vice President Ribera who had made a visit to Algiers to finalize all the terms of the agreement.

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"For months we have been explaining to Algeria that Morocco will acquire LNG [liquefied natural gas] on international markets, unload it in a regasification plant on the peninsula and use the Maghreb pipeline to be re-exported to its territory," the same source continued. According to the latter, Algeria’s aggressive attitude observed in recent days by the adoption of a new discourse intended for "domestic consumption" within the framework of a "staging" whose sole purpose would be to respond favorably to "internal pressures" insisting that Algiers protest against Madrid’s new position on the Sahara.