Algiers sees a parade of many European officials. Its asset: gas. Monday, September 5, 2022, it was the President of the European Council Charles Michel who praised Algeria, one of Europe’s gas suppliers, as an energy partner “reliable”, at a time when the Old Continent is in the grip of an energy shortage caused by the Ukrainian crisis.
“We considered that in the international circumstances that we know, energy cooperation is obviously essential and we see in Algeria a reliable, loyal partner, committed in the field of this cooperation in energy matters.“, said Charles Michel after a meeting in Algiers with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
In Algiers to strengthen cooperation with the European Union.
Regional stability and security, energy, trade, prosperity are our common objectives.
@TebbouneAmadjid @AlgPresidency pic.twitter.com/02wpqOThQ4—Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) September 5, 2022
Europe is facing a gas shortage that is looming this winter after the announcement on September 2, 2022 of the complete shutdown of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline by the Russian Gazprom. Several countries, especially European ones, seeking to reduce their dependence on Russian deliveries since the invasion of Ukraine have turned to Algeria.
The country, whose proven reserves of natural gas amount to almost 2,400 billion m³, supplies around 11% of the gas consumed in Europe, compared to 47% for Russia. It is the first African exporter of natural gas and the 7th in the world. During a late August visit to Algeria, French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Algiers’ decision to help “to diversification” gas supplies to Europe.
During an Algerian-Italian summit in mid-July, a large oil and gas contract for “production sharing” between the Italian giants Eni, the American Occidental and the French Total, involving 4 billion dollars, had been announced.
In addition, Algeria had indicated that it would increase by the end of the year its gas deliveries to Italy via the Transmed gas pipeline, of which it has become the first supplier ahead of Russia, after the invasion of Ukraine. Since the beginning of 2022, Algeria has supplied Italy with 13.9 billion m³, exceeding the previously scheduled volumes by 113%.
Europe intends to diversify its sources of supply. This Wednesday, September 7, the President of the European Council Charles Michel inaugurated the diplomatic mission of the European Union in Qatar, in Doha, where he is on an official visit to discuss in particular the energy crisis and the Ukrainian file. Qatar is one of the largest producers of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world, along with the United States and Australia.
South Korea, Japan and China are the main customers of Qatari LNG, but since last year Doha has supplied additional quantities to Britain and announced a cooperation agreement with Germany. Europe has long opposed the long-term agreements demanded by Qatar, but the conflict in Ukraine has changed the situation.