From The Guardian.
Fearing war and instability in North African countries, Italy and Spain are seeking new sources for natural gas.
The two European nations each import more than 10 percent of their gas from Libya and Egypt combined and about a third from Algeria, the only North African country to be spared violent unrest in the region, according to a report in The Guardian.
Violent uprisings that have toppled governments have already reduced supplies from Libya and Egypt, while an attack on Algeria’s In Amenas gas facility run by BP and Statoil in January has highlighted the risk there.
“We need new supply sources,” said Leonardo Senni, head of the energy department at Italy’s ministry of economic development, in
The Guardian.
Several regions are set to begin liquefied natural gas exports this decade, including North America, East Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and Australia.
“There is a trend in which our African gas imports are becoming more unreliable and our biggest concern is Algeria. So we are looking for new import sources,” said one Spanish gas importer.
Intelligence analysts say falling gas sales to its main clients in Europe could put Algeria at risk of social unrest.
