The Algerian public hydrocarbon giant Sonatrach said on Sunday it was ready to supply more gas to Europe, notably by transporting it via the Transmed gas pipeline linking Algeria to Italy, which is 45% dependent on gas imported from Russia.
Toufik Hakkar, CEO of Sonatrach, recalled that Europe is Algeria’s “preferred natural market”, contributing 11% to its gas imports.
Europe cannot do without Russian gas explained last Thursday the boss of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanné. Whether at the initiative of the Russians, if they were to reduce their exports, or at that of the Europeans as the European Commission suggested as a retaliatory measure against the invasion of Ukraine.
The gas exporting countries did not say anything different during their meeting in Doha of the FPEG: the productive apparatuses are at saturation, at most, will we be able to divert around 10% of the planned deliveries but of course with the agreement long-term client countries…
A welcome aid for Italy is very dependent on Russian gas
It is in this context that the Algerian public hydrocarbon giant Sonatrach announced that it was ready to supply more gas to Europe, through the Transmed gas pipeline linking Algeria to Italy, said its boss Sunday.
As a reminder, Italy is also one of the European countries most dependent on Russian gas.
Sonatrach is “a reliable supplier of gas for the European market and is ready to support its long-term partners in the event of difficult situations”, declared its CEO, Toufik Hakkar, to the daily Liberté.
Additional supplies of natural gas or liquefied natural gas (LNG) nevertheless remain dependent on the “availability of surplus volumes after satisfaction of domestic market demand” and “contractual commitments” to foreign partners, he added.
Strengthening of bilateral cooperation
On Monday, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio traveled to Algeria to discuss with his counterpart an increase in gas supplies from this North African country to compensate for a possible drop on the Russian side.
“We will discuss the strengthening of bilateral cooperation, in particular, to meet European energy security needs, in light of the conflict in Ukraine,” Di Maio tweeted shortly after arriving in Algiers.
Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, sending international shock waves.
Europe, “natural market of choice” for Algeria
Sonatrach is “a reliable supplier of gas for the European market and is ready to support its long-term partners in difficult situations”, said its CEO, Toufik Hakkar.
Europe is the “natural market of choice” for Algeria, which currently contributes 11% to its gas imports, he underlined.
Mr. Di Maio was accompanied by a delegation including, in particular, Claudio Descalzi, CEO of the Italian hydrocarbons giant Eni, which is very present in Algeria where it is a partner of Sonatrach.
Italy intends to diversify its energy sources “as soon as possible” to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Friday, regretting the bad choices of the past.
About 45% of the gas imported by the peninsula comes from Russia, Draghi said, adding that the peninsula could increase its gas deliveries from Algeria, but also from Azerbaijan, Tunisia, and Libya.
