Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Algeria ended on Saturday, August 27. But the discussions seem to be continuing this Sunday, August 28 with, perhaps, a 50% increase in Algerian gas imports as a result.
While Emmanuel Macron left Algeria on Saturday, August 27, after a three-day diplomatic visit, the delegation may well have left with an additional draft agreement in its suitcases. That of an increase in gas exports to France, according to our colleagues from Europe 1, confirmed by BFMTV.
“Announcements will be made soon,” said government spokesman Olivier Véran on Sunday, August 28. The Ministry of Energy Transition confirmed for its part that “exchanges are underway between Engie and Sonatrach”, an Algerian public oil and gas group, “as part of the strategy of diversifying our gas supplies led by the government for several months.
Ongoing discussions
According to our colleagues, these discussions would relate to a 50% increase in Algerian gas exports to France. A member of the executive interviewed by BFMTV said: “There are currently discussions between Engie and the Algerian government to increase gas and LNG deliveries”. With that in mind, “+50% would be a credible target,” he continued. Figures not confirmed by the government.
During the trip, Catherine MacGregor, Managing Director of Engie, met the Algerian Minister of Energy and Mines and the boss of Sonatrach, the Algerian oil and gas giant.
The Ministry of Energy Transition recalled that “the two companies have been contractually linked for decades and are continuing this dialogue in the light of the present circumstances”. At the beginning of July, on the occasion of the conclusion of an agreement between Engie and Sonatrach on the price of gas delivered to the French energy company, the two companies announced their “intention to extend their partnership on liquefied natural gas ( LNG) and natural gas”.
Engie is a major economic player in Algeria, particularly in the exploration and production of natural gas. It is the main LNG buyer in the country.
Compensate for the stoppage of Russian imports
France must indeed make up for the lack of gas imports from Russia, caused by the war in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Moscow.
“France depends little on gas in its energy mix, about 20%, and in this whole, Algeria represents 8 to 9%, we are not in a dynamic where Algerian gas could change the situation”, Emmanuel Macron had defended himself during his visit.
Algeria, whose proven reserves of the natural gas amount to nearly 2,400 billion m 3, supplies approximately 11% of the gas consumed in Europe, against 47% for Russia. It is the leading African exporter of natural gas and the 7th in the world.
Many European countries seeking to reduce their dependence on Russian gas supplies since the invasion of Ukraine have turned to Algeria, like Italy which signed an important agreement with Algeria in April on increased supplies of gas.
