Draghi came to Algeria to buy more gas and reduce dependency on Russia

Visiting Algeria at the invitation of President Abdelamadjid Tebboun, Draghi was received by his Algerian counterpart, Aimen Benbderrahmen, with whom he had his first meeting in the presence of Foreign Minister Ramtan Lamamra and Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab.

Italy imports 90% of the gas it consumes and about 40% comes from Russia Vladimir Putin and Algeria, where Rome is trying to diversify its energy supply, are positioned as the second gas seller, from which it receives 30% of national consumption.

“Tomorrow I will go to Algeria with Draghi to sign a gas deal that will allow us to face possible Russian usurpation. Unfortunately we are late, because we had to diversify long ago, but we have many partners and friends in the world.” Minister announced yesterday. Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, who was part of the delegation.

Claudio Descalzi, head of the Italian group Eni, visited Algeria at the beginning of the month. and his colleague Toufik Hakar, an Algerian hydrocarbon company, discussed ways to strengthen the partnership between Sonatrach and the two companies, aimed at increasing supply from Algeria.

The meeting took place Just a day after Hakar warned that he did not refuse to review gas prices for his “Spanish client” will maintain the same rate for other countries.

Algeria approaches Italy as it moves away from Spain For guiding its foreign policy in Western Sahara by supporting Morocco’s proposal for sovereignty over this region.

Italy buys gas from Algeria with the Transmed tube, It has a larger capacity than it takes in (up to 27,000 million cubic meters), 22,584 million cubic meters in 2021.

Draghi will have two meetings with Tebboune, first at the ‘El Mouradia’ presidential palace at 14:30 local time (13:30 GMT) and then at a dinner at the official residence at 19:20 local time (18:20 GMT) .