Meloni: Italy wants to get more gas from Algeria

Giorgia meloni, the Italian Prime Minister who visited Algiers in November, said that Italy hoped to receive more natural gas from Algeria after agreeing to intensify 'energy cooperation' with this north African nation.

Meloni met with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, as Rome faces long-term disruptions to liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), which was previously covering around 10% of Italy’s annual gas consumption.

"We've decided to bolster our cooperation, which includes our champions Eni and Sonatrach. We are also working on other fronts like shale-gas?and off-shore exploration. Meloni stated that this will allow for a long-term increase in the flow of Algerian gas to Italy.

Meloni and Tebboune didn't provide any details about when and how the gas supply to Italy might be increased.

Tebboune, at a press conference with Italy, said: "I wanted underline Algeria’s willingness to honor its commitments to Italy regarding the challenges that we face in regards to supplies... for oil markets and gas."

Last week, Italy's Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin stated that Rome was "talking" to several countries including Algeria in order to secure additional supplies of gas which would?make up for the lost Qatari deliveries.

Algeria delivered around 20 billion cubic meters of gas to Italy last year -- about 30% of its annual consumption. Around a half of that was under contracts between Sonatrach, the Italian company, and Eni. (Reporting and editing by Alvise Armillini, Angelo Amante from Rome and Francesca Landini from Milan)

(source: Reuters)