Algerian energy company Sonatrach has delivered its first liquefied natural gas cargo to Germany, Algerian media outlet El Watan reported on Wednesday, July 8, citing an announcement by the state-owned group.

The cargo was loaded at the GL2Z liquefaction complex in Bethioua, near Oran, and carried by the Tessala, an LNG carrier owned by Sonatrach. It was delivered on July 2 to the Wilhelmshaven 1 floating regasification terminal in northern Germany.

The delivery gives Sonatrach an entry point into Germany’s LNG market, which Berlin has expanded since 2022 to offset the sharp fall in Russian pipeline gas deliveries. Wilhelmshaven 1 was launched that year as an emergency facility to receive liquefied gas by ship before feeding it into the German grid.

Algeria already exports gas to Europe by pipeline, notably through Medgaz to Spain and TransMed to Italy. LNG allows exporters to reach other markets without relying on a fixed pipeline route, provided regasification terminals are available at the destination.

According to Sonatrach, the first delivery to Germany is expected to be followed by further cargoes as the group works to broaden the destinations for its gas exports.

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