Algeria: Lower prices stimulate European sales

The impact of lower oil prices on long-term supply contracts has driven a rise in Sonatrach’s piped gas sales to Italy and Spain. Data from Italian grid operator Snam Rete Gas show Algerian gas flows into the Mazara del Vallo entry point more than doubling to 23.5mcm on 7 April, from 10.7mcm at end-March. Bloomberg reported that imports of Algerian fuel fell in March to the lowest level for that month since at least 2010; Italy imported 6.8bcm in 2014, down from 12.5bcm in 2013, according to Snam data.