The Algerian Ministry of Energy threatened, Wednesday, April 27, to break the contract to supply gas to Spain if the latter were to route it "to a third destination", in a context of diplomatic tensions with Madrid and Rabat around Western Sahara.

The Algerian hydrocarbon giant Sonatrach supplied in 2021 more than 40% of the natural gas imported by Spain, most of which reaches it through the Medgaz submarine gas pipeline, with a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters per year. .

Another part of the Algerian gas arrived until October in Spain through the Maghreb Europe Gas Pipeline (GME) passing through Morocco.

But Algiers closed it after the rupture in August of its diplomatic relations with Rabat, thus depriving Morocco of the Algerian gas which passed through its territory.

According to a press release from the Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mines, Minister Mohamed Arkab was informed "today (Wednesday) (...) by his Spanish counterpart, Teresa Ribera, of Spain's decision to authorize operation, in reverse flow, of the Maghreb Europe Gas Pipeline" and that "this operation will take place today or tomorrow".

The press release did not specify the name of the country which would benefit from this operation of the pipeline in "reverse flow", but the Spanish government had announced in February that it would help Rabat to "guarantee its energy security" by allowing it to transport gas through the GME after Algiers stopped supplying it.

Any routing of "quantities of Algerian natural gas delivered to Spain, whose destination is none other than that provided for in the contracts, will be considered as a breach of the contractual commitments, and consequently, could lead to the breach of the contract binding Sonatrach to its Spanish customers," warned the Algerian ministry.

Western Sahara at the heart of tensions

This warning comes in a context of tensions between Algiers and Madrid on the question of Western Sahara.

A former Spanish colony, this vast desert area considered a "non-autonomous territory" by the UN, has for decades opposed Morocco - which controls 80% of it - to the Sahrawi separatists of the Polisario Front.

Spain, very dependent on Algiers for its gas supplies, made a radical change of position on this sensitive issue on March 18, publicly supporting the Moroccan autonomy project and arousing the anger of Algiers, the main Polisario support.

Algiers recalled its ambassador to Spain on March 19 and Sonatrach mentioned an increase in the price of gas delivered to Spain, due to the surge recorded on the markets under the effect of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

On Saturday, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune described Madrid's reversal as "morally and historically unacceptable", but assured that Algeria would "never renounce its commitments to supply gas to Spain, whatever the circumstances. ".

With AFP

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