Algeria no longer knows what to do to annoy its best enemy. This summer, the government even accused Morocco of being responsible for the fires that killed around 100 people in Kabylia. It was more practical than talking about global warming or acknowledging your own deficiencies in terms of public powers. At the end of August, unilaterally, Algiers even decided to sever diplomatic relations with Rabat. Today, he turns off the gas.
Since 1996, Morocco has been a transit country for Algerian gas destined for Spain and Portugal. Thanks to the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline (GME) which crosses the country and transports more than 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas each year, the kingdom receives tolls paid in kind: by gas. And for the cubic meters that it lacks, it is entitled to very advantageous rates. While energy prices are soaring, since the evening of October 31, this windfall has officially dried up by decision of the authorities. President Tebboune asked the Algerian public group Sonatrach not to renew its contract with the National Electricity Office (ONE), the Moroccan operator.
Why such a decision ? To protest against “hostile practices which undermine national unity”. At the heart of the crisis, there is still the same subject, Western Sahara. Algeria, which supports the Sahrawi separatists and their right to self-determination, still cannot digest the fact that the United States has recognized Moroccan sovereignty over this disputed territory, administered since 1975 by Morocco.
In the middle of the summer, a short sentence suddenly rekindled tensions: during a video conference at the United Nations, the Algerian foreign minister recalled his country’s support for “self-determination of the Saharawi people”. The Moroccan representative replied: “More than any other, he said, the Kabyle people in Algeria deserve to fully enjoy their right to self-determination “. Algiers sees red. We know the rest.
This October 29, the resolution of the UN Security Council confirming the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the organization of a referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso), did not help anything. The resolution is judged “biased“by the Algerian authorities. She “has the effect of reinforcing the exorbitant claims of the occupying state [le Maroc], whose intransigence and maneuvers aimed at hampering and perverting the process of decolonization of Western Sahara “, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release. The last UN special envoy on Western Sahara having thrown in the towel, his successor Staffan de Mistura takes office on Monday, November 1. It is up to him – once again – to relaunch negotiations so that the gas war does not turn into open conflict.
Morocco reacts in fashion “not even hurt”. In its press release published on Sunday, October 31, the National Electricity Office explains that the Algerian decision will only have an immediate impact. “insignificant”. The country has made its arrangements. And even if the two power plants that run on Algerian gas shut down, the consumer will not realize it. Morocco has an electricity production capacity that largely covers its needs. Aziz Akhannouch’s new government is also in talks with Madrid for Spain to return gas to Morocco through the same pipeline.
On the other hand, for Spain, it may be less painless. Algeria is the country’s leading supplier of natural gas. Fortunately, she doesn’t send it through a single pipe. Another gas pipeline, the Medgaz, which since 2011 has passed through the seabed, will continue to operate.
Algeria / Morocco:
Algeria decides not to renew the natural gas contract passing for Spain via Morocco (GME). Algeria will supply Spain via the Medgaz gas pipeline and LNG. pic.twitter.com/Cf3hVywo4r– Restitutor Orientis (@RestitutorOrien) October 31, 2021
But the Medgaz is already at its maximum capacity. The Algerian authorities want to be reassuring: so that Spain does not run out of gas this winter, they promise to increase deliveries of liquefied gas by LNG carrier. A method that is actually random because these boats are rare on the market. The possible consequence is an increase in prices for the Spaniards. A case that embarrasses all of Europe, because the 27 have no means to help Spain, the fifth largest economy in the Union, to solve its problem of energy dependence.