Algeria Now
France Requests Urgent Increase in Algerian Oil Supplies, LNG Offer Limited by Contracts
· Source: Algeria Now
France has formally asked Algeria to boost deliveries of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as it seeks to cushion a persistent energy crisis and avert possible supply shortfalls. According to the energy portal Attaqa, Algerian officials indicated that while oil shipments could be expanded, LNG exports are constrained by existing long‑term contracts with other buyers.
Algeria’s state oil company Sonatrach is able to raise oil volumes in the short term, analysts say, because the necessary margins are available and the company already enjoys a strong commercial relationship with Paris. In April 2026, France became the top importer of Algerian crude, receiving 138,000 barrels per day – roughly 15 % of Algeria’s total oil exports that month, up from 43,000 bpd in March. Over the first four months of 2026, the average daily export to France was about 95,000 barrels, a 3.4 % increase on the same period a year earlier.
By contrast, the LNG side faces legal and contractual hurdles. The majority of Sonatrach’s LNG capacity is already committed to long‑term agreements with historic partners, leaving little room for sudden spot shipments or rapid volume increases without renegotiating existing deals. Consequently, the speed at which Algeria can respond to France’s request for additional LNG is limited.
Neither Sonatrach nor Algeria’s Ministry of Energy has commented publicly on the negotiations, and no specific figures or timelines for any potential extra deliveries have been disclosed. The outcome will depend on Algeria’s ability to balance its global contractual obligations with France’s urgent energy needs amid a volatile market.