*Spain’s gas imports rose by 14% to 37bcm in 2021, bringing volumes almost back in line with 2019’s pre-pandemic level of 37.3bcm (see chart). Most of the rise came from Algeria, which boosted supplies by 6.4bcm to 15.8bcm after two years of falls. But Algeria volumes are set for a structural fall from 2022 due to the closure of a key export pipeline.
*The North African country boosted its share of the Spanish market to 43% in 2021 after falling to as low as 29% in 2020 amid fierce competition from LNG players such as the US, Qatar and Russia (MEES, 17 July 2020). (CONTINUED - 583 WORDS)
