Spain runs out of Algerian gas supply through Morocco

In the midst of the energy crisis, Algeria this Sunday cut off gas supply to Spain through the gas pipeline that runs through Morocco, a very important gas pipeline for the Spanish energy supply, which last year received 6,000 million cubic meters of gas through this pipeline.

The Algerian Government has turned off the tap in retaliation against the Moroccan Government, which it accuses of “hostile practices”, which represents a new step in the confrontation between the two Maghreb powers.

The question is how this is going to affect Spain at a time when the country is experiencing an unstoppable rise in electricity prices.

The Medgaz gas pipeline, a feasible alternative?

Algeria has promised the Government of Madrid that it will supply the lost gas from the Moroccan gas pipeline by increasing the capacity of the Medgaz pipeline to 10 billion cubic meters., which directly connects Algeria with Almería. But even in that case, the figures do not add up, since there would still be 4,000 cubic meters of gas to reach the usual supply.

Spanish dependency on Algerian gas

Spain’s dependence on Algerian gas is very important. According to Enagás, Algeria has supplied almost half of the gas imported by Spain this year, 47% exactly, which is equivalent to 15,000 million cubic meters.

Of these, 6 billion came through the gas pipeline that runs through Morocco and which has now been cut, 8 billion came through the Medgaz pipeline and 1 billion in ships, in the form of liquefied natural gas.

Morocco says it is not worried about the decision of the Algerian government to close the gas pipeline and assures that the impact will be “negligible” for its electricity system. The consequences for Spain are yet to be seen.

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