Spain Shifts to US Gas as Algerian Imports Plummet Amid Diplomatic Tensions

In a context of unilateral closure of the Maghreb Europe (GME) gas pipeline by Algeria and especially in the face of its blackmail, after the government’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara, Spain has decided to reduce its imports from Algeria, in favor of American gas.

According to official statistics published on Monday, American gas imports were multiplied by 4.3, going from 18,184 GWh in the first half of 2021 to 78,078 GWh in the first half of this year. Similarly, the 10,618 GWh of gas imported from the United States in June represent an increase of 764.65% compared to the 1,228 GWh purchased during the same month last year, or a multiplication by more than eight.

At the same time, gas imports from Algeria fell by 41.11% in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year, while purchases of this raw material from Russia increased by 3.2% year-on-year over the first six months of the year.

In addition to the United States and Russia, Spain is also turning to Nigeria for its gas supply. In the first half of the year, 14% of imports of this raw material came from this West African giant.