Algeria continues its “reprisals” against Madrid

The CEO of the Algerian state company Sonatrech warned that the company intends to recalculate the prices of gas sold to Spain SonatrachTawfiq Hakkar, told the Algerian News Agency.

Algeria has decided to preserve Relatively correct contractual prices for customers but does not rule out the need to recalculate prices for Spanish customers. ” Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, oil and gas prices have exploded Hacker said.

The potential price increase comes just days after the United States asked Algeria to increase gas supplies to Spain by resuming its stake in the gas pipeline between Europe and the Maghreb.

During his visit to Algeria, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken asked President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to reconsider its position. The two men discussed trade cooperation as well as regional security and stability during Blinken’s last leg on his regional tour, which has taken him to Israel, Morocco and Algeria.

→ Read also: Could Blinken dissuade Algeria from reopening the Maghreb-European gas pipeline?

Algeria reportedly rejected a previous request from the Americans to increase the flow of gas to Europe by assuming participation in the EMPL gas pipeline. The request was received during the recent visit of US Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman to Algiers.

The bitter dispute between Morocco and Algeria reached its climax in August 2021 when Algeria decided to cut diplomatic relations with Rabat. A few months later, Algeria decided in October to withdraw from the Maghreb-European Gas Pipeline (EMPL), which transports Algerian gas to Spain via Morocco.

Algeria is also currently at odds with Madrid. The Spanish government’s decision to support Morocco’s plan for autonomy in the Sahara went wrong in Algiers.

Algeria is currently at odds with Spain. The latest decision by the Spanish government to support Morocco’s plan for autonomy in the Sahara has gone awry in Algiers.

Algeria, the main supporter of the Polisario Front, recalled its ambassador to Spain late last month and said it would suspend all agreements with Spain if Madrid did not consider its position on the Sahara.

However, insiders say it is impossible for Algeria to terminate the gas contract with the Spanish government, because the current agreement between the two countries is valid until 2030.