MILAN, March 23 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will travel to Algeria this week as Rome looks to secure alternative gas supplies amid prolonged disruptions in deliveries from Qatar.
Italy Turns to Algeria for Gas as Iran War Halts Qatar LNG Deliveries
Italy Seeks Alternative Gas Supplies Amid Middle East Disruptions
MILAN, March 23 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will travel to Algeria this week as Rome looks to secure alternative gas supplies amid prolonged disruptions in deliveries from Qatar.
The prime minister's office said Meloni will be in Algiers on Wednesday, without giving a detailed schedule for the official trip.
Algeria Emerges as Key Gas Partner
Algeria is one of the countries Italy is in talks with to secure gas supplies after Iranian strikes on Qatar appeared to have halted its exports for an extended period, Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said on Friday.
Negotiations with Multiple Suppliers
The minister said Italian state-controlled energy companies were talking to suppliers from Algeria, the United States and Azerbaijan to receive more gas, and the government was trying to assist them.
Algeria's Growing Role in Italy's Energy Mix
Algeria has become one of Italy's top gas suppliers after Rome moved to replace Russian gas following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and now covers around 30% of the country's annual gas consumption.
Impact of Qatar Supply Disruption
Qatar's Share in Italian Gas Market
Qatar used to cover around 10% of Italy's consumption, but after Iranian attacks it told Italian customer Edison it would not be able to fulfil its contractual obligations for April.
Long-Term Effects of Iranian Strikes
The pause in supplies is likely to be longer-lasting after gas facilities were hit hard last week, QatarEnergy's CEO said.
Eni's Position on Algerian Gas Contracts
State-controlled energy group Eni, which has long-term contracts with Algeria, said on Friday it was receiving volumes within the terms of existing contracts.
Diplomatic and Business Relations
Recent High-Level Meetings
Meloni met Algeria's president in July 2025 in Rome when several business deals were signed in the sectors of energy and telecommunications.
(Reporting by Francesca Landini in MilanEditing by Tomasz Janowski)
