Gas disaster: can Algeria compensate the EU’s wants? | EUROtoday
Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
Energy manufacturing websites focused and transit nonetheless blocked within the Strait of Hormuz… The struggle within the Middle East, launched by Israel and the United States in opposition to Iran on February 28, has triggered a world power disaster and an explosion within the value of hydrocarbons.
A scenario which has lasted for a number of weeks, regardless of Donald Trump’s promise of a “short war”, and is severely affecting the manufacturing of the Gulf nations, the world’s main exporters of oil and gasoline.
At the start of March, following the Iranian strikes, Qatar Energy suspended manufacturing at its Ras Laffan advanced, which alone represents round 20% of the world’s provide of liquefied pure gasoline (77 million tonnes per yr).
“Trusted partner”
The surge in costs and the rise in demand not directly favor different producing nations: the United States, Russia, China, but in addition Algeria, a strategic associate of the European Union (EU) for its gasoline provide.
An extension in your browser seems to be blocking the loading of the video participant. To be capable of watch this content material, you have to disable or uninstall it.
The largest producer of pure gasoline in Africa and tenth globally, Algeria represents round 12% of complete gasoline imports into the EU.
“It is a very important local partner for Europe,” underlines Anna Creti, researcher specializing in uncooked supplies, specifically due to its two gasoline pipelines (Transmed and Medgaz), which transport gasoline on to Italy and Spain, throughout the Mediterranean.
Since the beginning of the struggle in Ukraine, the EU has strengthened its power partnership with Algeria in gasoline, inexperienced hydrogen and renewable energies to safe its provides and help the power transition.
“Europeans perceive Algeria as a trusted partner, because it has never made political use of the energy question, even during the worst episodes of tensions with France,” insists Algerian political scientist Hasni Abidi, in reference to the disaster between the 2 nations for the reason that recognition by Paris of the Moroccan nature of Western Sahara.
Also learnFrance-Algeria diplomatic disaster: in 2025, an irremediable shift?
Limited assets
The President of the Italian Council, Georgia Meloni, was obtained on Tuesday March 24 by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. Rome is searching for a rise in provides, after the Iranian strikes on Qatar, which normally provides 10% of Italy’s wants however which introduced that it might not be capable of meet its contractual obligations for the month of April.
According to the specialised Energy Research Unit platform, primarily based in Washington, Algerian exports of liquefied pure gasoline (LNG) to Europe have exploded for the reason that begin of the struggle, going from 265,000 tonnes between early and mid-February to 462,000 tonnes in the course of the first two weeks of March.
Algerian export capacities nonetheless stay restricted, in accordance with consultants contacted by France 24. Because if Algeria has a sure margin to extend its LNG deliveries, its two gasoline pipelines to Europe are already operating at full capability.
“Algeria has neither the volumes nor the infrastructure to serve as an alternative to Qatar,” analyzes Anna Creti. “It has vast unexploited resources, but their exploitation requires large investments and would take several decades,” underlines the researcher.
Also learnWar within the Middle East: the very hefty invoice for strikes in opposition to the gasoline fields in Qatar
“It is also facing an increase in its internal demand for gas, particularly for electricity production, which limits its export capacities,” she continues. “Algeria will help meet European needs, but will not replace its main suppliers which are Norway and the United States.”
The drastic drop in Russian gasoline imports into the EU over the previous 4 years has actually been offset primarily by American and Norwegian imports. Algerian imports, for his or her half, fell barely, going from 41,000 to 39,000 million m3 between 2022 and 2025.
At the tip of February, the Algerian hydrocarbon big Sonatrach introduced a large funding plan of 60 billion {dollars} (51.8 billion euros), a 3rd of which by way of worldwide partnerships. Algiers thus hopes to double its gasoline manufacturing, which might enhance from 100 to 200 billion m3 by 2030, the equal of Qatar’s present manufacturing, the third largest on the planet.
https://www.france24.com/fr/%C3%A9co-tech/20260324-crise-gaz-alg%C3%A9rie-peut-elle-compenser-besoins-ue-europe-qatar-guerre-moyen-orient