Algeria, one of Africa’s leading natural gas producers, saw a significant drop in its gas output in 2024. According to estimates from a Washington-based energy research unit, the country’s gas production fell by 6.82 billion cubic meters—a 6.5% decrease compared to the previous year.
This decline brought Algeria’s total gas production to 98.41 billion cubic meters in 2024, down from 105.24 billion cubic meters in 2023, as reported by the specialized website Attaqa on Thursday, February 20, 2025. Despite the overall downward trend, December 2024 offered a glimmer of hope, with production reaching 9.47 billion cubic meters—the highest monthly figure since March 2023. However, this temporary uptick wasn’t enough to offset the year-long decline.
Alongside the drop in production, domestic gas consumption in Algeria also decreased. In 2024, the country consumed 18.85 billion cubic meters of gas for electricity generation and heating, compared to 21.02 billion cubic meters in 2023. This reduction in consumption might indicate an ongoing energy transition or efforts to optimize resources amid falling production.
Algerian Gas: A Rollercoaster Year in 2024
The year 2024 was marked by significant fluctuations in Algerian gas production, with performance varying widely across quarters. The first quarter recorded the highest output of the year at 26.28 billion cubic meters, but it also suffered the steepest annual decline, dropping by 5.52 billion cubic meters compared to the first quarter of 2023 (31.8 billion cubic meters).
The second quarter was the only period to show growth, with production rising to 24.13 billion cubic meters—an increase of 1.2 billion cubic meters over the same period in 2023. In contrast, the third quarter was the weakest, with just 22.85 billion cubic meters produced. The fourth quarter saw a slight recovery, reaching 25.14 billion cubic meters, though this still reflected a modest decline of 398 million cubic meters compared to the previous year.
This production slump poses major challenges for Algeria, whose economy heavily relies on gas exports. The government may need to rethink its energy strategy to boost production and meet both domestic and international demand. Moreover, this situation could affect Algeria’s international partnerships and export contracts, particularly with Europe, which is seeking to diversify its gas supply sources.
