Germany seeks Algerian gas deals amid 53% storage

Germany is seeking long-term gas contracts with Algeria to diversify its energy supply, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said in Algiers, as German gas storage stood at 53% full.

Wadephul told German public broadcaster ZDF that Germany needed more suppliers and long-term contracts. He said he planned to meet Algerian Energy Minister Mourad Adjal and was travelling with representatives of German companies seeking long-term deals.

Pointing to Algeria’s gas deals with Spain and Italy, Wadephul said he hoped Germany could secure part of its gas supply from Algeria.

Germany used to rely on cheap Russian gas, but large deliveries stopped after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Berlin has since largely replaced Russian energy with Norwegian piped gas and US liquefied natural gas, whose prices are usually higher and more volatile than long-term piped gas deals.

According to Aggregated Gas Storage Inventory figures, Germany’s gas storage was 53% full, compared with an EU average of 65%. German government rules require most gas storage facilities to be at least 80% full by November 1.