Spain reduced its imports of Algerian gas in favor of American gas, with an imports decline of about 42% from January to July, compared to the same period in 2021.
According to the Spanish newspaper El País, Madrid increased its crude purchases of natural gas imported from Russia by 15.6%, according to official data issued by the gas company Enagás.
Spain purchased 64,534 gigawatt-hours of Algerian gas previously, of which 6,056 gigawatt-hours (93%) were obtained through the Medgas pipeline, and the rest via liquefied natural gas tankers, said the same source.
Russia became the fourth largest supplier of natural gas destined for Spain last July with a rate of 10.7%, behind Algeria (23.3%), the US (23.2%), and Nigeria (16%).
The US is still among the main gas importers to Spain, with purchases amounting to 8,530 GWh, slightly less than the Algerian imports, which reached 8572 gigawatt-hours, added the same source.
The decline in Spain’s imports from Algeria comes as a result of the unilateral decision in late October 2021 to cut the contract of the Maghreb-European gas pipeline, as the neighboring country severed ties with Morocco.
Spain has radically looked for other markets that produce this vital resource.
The US also strengthened its position as a major gas supplier to Spain, during the first half of 2022, with 34.4% of the purchases, reflecting the financial losses incurred by Algeria after the closure of the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline.
According to Enagás, these data indicate a 40% decrease in Algerian gas that reaches Spain via the pipeline, compared to the first half of last year.
Recently, the gas that Spain has been sending to Morocco through the Maghreb-Europe (GME) pipeline comes from the US, according to Spanish reports.
The first cargo of LNG from the US destined for Morocco was unloaded at the regasification plant in Bilbao before being sent to the Kingdom via the GME in the opposite direction.
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