• Ribera government denies in Parliament the gas pipeline that Sánchez demands from Macron

  • European tour Sánchez urges the European Commission to present a "balanced formula" that guarantees energy and lowers its price

The Italian Government of Mario Draghi distances itself from Pedro Sánchez and does not take the turn on the issue of Western Sahara.

He is thus in a better position in his growing rapprochement with Algeria to improve its gas supply.

Italian official sources assure

EL MUNDO

that, after the Spanish turn, there is no change in the Italian Government in the position already expressed last November by the President of the Republic.

These are statements by Sergio Mattarella to the Algerian newspaper

El Moudjahid

, in which he expressed "support for Algeria's role and its commitment within the UN framework with Western Sahara."

He also provided support to the new UN special envoy to the region, the Italian-Swedish

Staffan De Mistura

, to achieve "an equitable and lasting solution that takes due account of the rights of the Saharawi people."

The Italian Foreign Minister,

Luigi di Maio

, for his part, has recognized "the efforts of Morocco", but does not take the step of Sánchez or, previously, of Donald Trump, of affirming that the absorption of the Sahara by Morocco with a status of autonomy is "the most serious, realistic and credible solution".

Algeria already passes twice as much gas through the gas pipeline with Italy as through the one with Spain

This Italian nod to Algeria coincides with the European race to obtain alternative gas to Russian and to become a gateway for it to the EU.

Spain loses integers after the withdrawal of the Algerian ambassador in Madrid in retaliation for his turn in the Sahara.

Instead, the president of the Italian energy group ENI,

Claudio Descalzi

, argues in a book presented on Monday about the

Transmed gas pipeline

that unites both countries that "Italy has great confidence in Algeria's capacity".

ENI's main shareholder is the Italian Ministry of Economy and, in Descalzi's opinion, “for Italy it is still necessary to have an allied country in the south to diversify energy routes and Algeria is still interested in developing its potential by benefiting from external experience.

We are not moving just for profit, but to build a strong partnership."

Descalzi also makes it clear that Italy disputes with Spain to be the gateway for partners from the north of the EU as an alternative to Russian gas: «This alliance of billions of cubic meters of gas is beneficial for both and for all of Europe, not only to the south."

Draghi himself declared after the Russian invasion of Ukraine that reducing dependence on Russian gas and increasing purchases from Algeria is a priority for his government.

Di Maio traveled to Algeria on February 28 to meet with the country's president,

Abdelmadjid Tebboune

, while no member of the Spanish government has traveled to Algiers since last fall, when he failed to prevent the closure of the main gas pipeline between the two countries. , the

Maghreb-Europe

that crosses Morocco.

Algiers announces a new partnership to exploit phosphates with Chinese companies

In a movement considered significant in the Spanish gas sector, the Algerian state company

Sonatrach

announced last Sunday - after Sánchez's diplomatic turn - the discovery of a large oil and gas field in alliance with ENI.

"Italy can benefit from Spain's inopportune lurch with Algeria," they warn in the Spanish energy sector.

It also coincides, as published by EL MUNDO last Monday, with Sonatrach's contractual right to review gas prices to Spain for this and the next two years in these weeks.

Sonatrach has already warned that it intends to raise prices in the contract with

Naturgy

, the leader in the Spanish gas market.

The third vice president, Teresa Ribera, evaded responsibility and said that it is an issue "managed by private companies," referring to the state-owned Sonatrach and the private Naturgy.

After the closure of the first gas pipeline, Algeria now sends twice as much gas to Italy as to Spain through the cheapest and safest route, which is this type of fixed interconnection.

Through the Transmed gas pipeline, which links Algeria and Italy, it exported 22 bcm (billions of cubic meters) in 2021, while through the

Medgaz

, the one between Algeria and Spain, cannot reach 11 bcm.

Another country that has winked at Algeria is

China

, supporting its vision in the Sahara and very interested in the resources of the Maghreb country.

Yesterday, Sonatrach announced "a shareholders' agreement" to jointly operate a phosphate company.

The winks to Algiers from other actors follow one another taking advantage of the crisis with Spain.

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Historic turn on the SaharaThe Government trusts that the largest purchase of gas due to the Russian invasion will calm Algeria before the turn in the Sahara

EnergyAlgeria offers more gas to the EU through the gas pipeline with Italy and not through those available with Spain

EnergíaRibera rectifies after being disavowed by Sánchez and accepts more gas pipelines: "Accelerating interconnections is key"

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