Wadephul Looks to Algeria as Long-Term Gas Partner for Germany

Germany is looking to Algeria for long-term gas supplies as Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul pushes energy diversification during a visit to Algiers.

“Diversification is absolutely the order of the day,” Wadephul told journalists in the Algerian capital. He said Algeria was a reliable partner that already supplies large amounts of gas to Italy and Spain. His talks with Algerian Hydrocarbons Minister Mohamed Arkab were expected to focus on negotiating long-term contracts for Germany.

Wadephul said such agreements could provide another dependable source for Germany’s gas storage facilities. Meetings with representatives of German companies were also planned in Algiers.

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Diversification is absolutely the order of the day.

He described Algeria as one of the European Union’s most important gas suppliers and said its importance could grow further because of its potential to produce green hydrogen. Germany and Algeria agreed in July to deepen their energy partnership.

Germany’s Economy Ministry recently said a gas shortage was not expected this winter based on current information. It also said the situation was more strained than during the previous two winters, with German storage levels substantially lower than in earlier years.

Wadephul was due to meet Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune at the end of his two-day visit to Tunisia and Algeria. In Tunisia, he had already been received by President Kais Saied.

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That we try to negotiate long-term contracts for Germany. If that is possible, then we have another reliable source that is naturally also important for our gas storage facilities.