In the European Union, concern is mounting that the bilateral dispute might provoke a gas supply crisis on its southern periphery. In November 2021, Algiers shut off one pipe of the Maghreb-Europe Pipeline (MEG) which links its gas fields through Morocco with Spanish and Portuguese gas grids. The never-ending dispute over Western SaharaWhat's behind the disruptions of gas flows from North Africa is the ongoing dispute over Western Sahara — a territory occupied by Spain until 1975 when Morocco annexed it. In addition, the state-owned gas company Sonatrach said Spain would now have to pay more for Algerian gas. Russia's state-owned gas giant Gazprom is a major player on North African gas fields through its multiple stakes in various national operators.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 16, 2022 08:13 UTC