Algeria delivers first LNG cargo to Germany

Sonatrach, the state-owned oil and gas company of Algeria, completed its first delivery of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Germany on July 2. 

According to a report by the Algerian news outlet Observalgerie, the gas was loaded at a liquefaction complex in Bethioua, in the Oran province. From there, an Algerian methane carrier, Tessala, transported the cargo across the Mediterranean and North Sea. The shipment was then discharged at the Wilhelmshaven 1 terminal on Germany’s northern coast. This terminal is a floating regasification unit. It is designed to receive liquid gas, turn it back into gas, and then inject it directly into the German national pipeline network.

The export numbers for the first half of 2026 show a positive trend for Algeria. In May 2026, the North African nation exported 1.04 million tonnes of LNG. This represents a 49% increase compared to the volumes sent in April. While the total volume for the first five months of 2026 is slightly lower by 5% compared to the same period in 2025 (largely due to a quiet start in January), the recent monthly data suggests a clear recovery in export capacity.

Italy remains the most significant partner for Sonatrach. It received over 20 billion cubic meters of gas in 2025. Meanwhile, Spain is an important buyer. In May 2026, Algerian gas exports to Spain rose by 64% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the company has begun exploring new opportunities in new markets. This includes the Netherlands, where a recent delivery marked Sonartracht’s return after a two-year absence. 

The shipment to Germany takes place only a few days after energy agreements were reached by the 2 countries to modernise Algeria’s energy footprint. One of them aimed at deepening existing ties between Sonatrach and the German company VNG AG. This collaboration specifically targets the reduction of methane emissions and the expansion of green hydrogen production.

Maghrebi.org, Observalgerie.