Spain Lawmakers Probe Gas Supply Contingency Plans Amid Algeria Concerns

The deputies of the Vox parliamentary group want to know the government’s Plan B in the event of a sudden interruption of all gas imports from Algeria. In its response, the government has reassured that Spain has strategic gas reserves to last 20 days "in case of an emergency situation", reports Vox Populi.

To this quantity is added the liquefied gas that must be stored according to the months when the demand for supply is high. In November, these reserves reached the equivalent of 1.5 days of consumption, while they must be maintained at a level identical to what Spain spends for 5.5 days.

To read: Algeria-Spain Gas Pipeline Faces Flow Disruption, Raising Supply Concerns

The rise in consumer prices, and the closure of the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline (GME) crossing Morocco by Algeria, have caused great concern in Spain, which has imported 29.1% of its gas from Algeria. To guarantee the gas supply to Spain via the GME, the government has instructed ministers José Manuel Albares and Teresa Ribera to resolve the crisis between Rabat and Algiers. Failing that, liquefied gas would be purchased and transported by ships adapted for storage.

To read: Spain’s Gas Supply in Jeopardy as Algeria Shifts Pipeline Routes

"In the field of Intelligence, the actions and interests of third-party states are monitored in everything that can affect the stability of the national energy sector," informs the National Security Directorate (DSN) in its annual report. Spain thus has a sufficient stock of crude oil and petroleum products equivalent to 92 days of consumption, to which are added all the reserves of private companies (42 days) and the Strategic Petroleum Reserves Society (50 days).