On Monday, during a one-day visit to the city of Algiers, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi concluded 15 agreements in critical sectors of cooperation with the African nation, including the increase of gas supplies essential to meet a potential Russian gas cut.
The visit occurred at a particularly difficult time for Draghi, who is facing a political crisis at home after one of his major coalition partners resigned in front of a Thursday confidence vote.
The Italian delegation in Algeria consisted of six ministers who signed collaborative accords across the energy and renewables, industrial development, justice, and pharmaceuticals sectors.
Algeria plays a crucial role in Rome’s efforts to minimize its reliance on Russian gas and diversify its energy sources, as Draghi and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune emphasized in joint announcements.
In the past several months, Algeria has become Italy’s primary gas supplier. Draghi stated Last Monday, the Algerian energy company Sonatrach reported a 4 billion cubic meter boost in upcoming supply.
Fearing that Moscow could cut its gas supply in retribution for European sanctions enacted in response to the Ukrainian conflict, all European countries are attempting to reduce their imports of Russian gas.
