Browsing: Algeria

Natural Gas

The recent formalization of an agreement to advance what is being hailed as South Africa’s most substantial liquefied natural gas (LNG) endeavor in the Mpumalanga province underscores the potential of natural gas as a viable energy source for the nation. This accord, described as a “non-binding term sheet,” represents a collaboration between South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Afro Energy. The latter is a subsidiary of the Australian gas exploration company Kinetiko Energy.

While Russia’s preferred visions and modes of action in the Maghreb seem to be fairly well identified, the perceptions and expectations, but also the possible reservations on the Maghreb are more rarely expressed by the leaders of these countries and little-studied at the academic level.

Perhaps we should look at this, as far as the powers that be are concerned, a concern for discretion regarding the sensitive aspects of this foreign policy component – this is particularly true for Algeria – an area on which they generally communicate little and for the academic research community in North Africa, a lack of knowledge related to the history, geography and culture of contemporary Russia.

If there is undoubtedly, on the Maghreb side and with important nuances from one country to another, a manifest interest in a development or a deepening of the partnership with Moscow, questions may remain about Russia’s objectives, especially in Rabat and Tunis.

The Algeria-Morrocan shared border has remianed closed since 1994. www.theexchange.africa

The Spain energy crisis comes after Algeria cut off natural gas supply through the Gaz-Maghreb-Europe (GME) pipeline.

Algeria President Abdelmadjid Tebboune authorized Sonatrach (state energy firm) to stop gas exports to Spain through the pipeline that transverses through Morocco to Spain, due to tensions with Rabat, accusations that Morocco denied.

The 1400 km GME pipeline has been in operation for over 55 years, delivering billion cubic metres per year to Portugal and Spain.