Italian prime minister in Algeria for energy talks

By Abdel-Razzaq bin Abdallah

ALGIERS, Algeria (AA) – Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi arrived in Algeria on Monday for energy talks with Algerian officials.

During his one-day visit, Draghi is scheduled to meet with Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune and attend the fourth session of the high joint committee between the two countries.

In May, Tebboune paid a visit to Rome during which he announced that Italy will be the first importer of Algerian gas in Europe.

Last week, Algeria announced an additional four billion cubic-meter of gas to Italy in the upcoming days, which will reach six billion cubic-meter by the end of 2022.

In May 2019, Algerian energy giant Sonatrach renewed its deal with the Italian Eni gas company to supply nine billion cubic-meter of Algerian gas per year.

Algeria is linked with Europe via three major trans-Mediterranean pipelines; the first passes via Tunisia to Sicily Island; the second via the Moroccan territories then to Spain and the third pipeline goes directly to Spain's southern city of Almeria.

Writing by Ahmed Asmar