The forum's report for the month of January indicates that in 2023, Algeria supplied 19% of the natural gas exported by pipeline to the EU, ranking just behind Norway, which occupies first place in this area. with a market share of 54%, while Russia ranked third, with a share of 17%.
In the same context, the monthly average in 2023 of Algeria's exports to the EU reached 2.41 billion m3 (mm3), compared to an average of 7 mm3 for Norway and 2.3 mm3 for Russia.
The report highlights that “the EU imported 155 mm3 of gas in 2023, a deficit of 23% compared to what was imported in 2022”.
Algeria has a gas pipeline connecting it with Italy and another with Spain, while Norway has six pipelines.
On the other hand, global exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), in December 2023, increased by 5.3% year-on-year (1.90 million tonnes), reaching a “record level”, the most sharp monthly increase on an annual basis since February 2023, according to the report.
The month of December saw “remarkable growth” in LNG exports from forum member and observer states, of 3.8% on an annual basis, reaching 18.03 million tonnes.
These are the highest monthly LNG exports for GECF members since January 2020, the report said, adding that the total number of LNG shipments worldwide reached 6266.56 shipments in 2023.
The United States comes first with 123 cargoes, followed by Algeria in second place, with 54 cargoes.
Norway recorded the highest rate of increase in LNG exports last year (+59%), followed by Algeria (+25%), and Peru (+22%).
Algeria will host, from February 29 to March 2, the 7th GECF Summit, which brings together the world's main gas exporting countries, together representing 70% of the world's proven gas reserves, more than 40% of marketed production, 47 % of exports via pipelines and more than half of liquefied natural gas exports globally.