ALGIERS, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Algeria will increase its gas exports to Italy by 4 billion cubic meters as of next week, official APS news agency reported Friday, without specifying the time frame for the increased delivery round.
The Algerian energy giant Sonatrach will ensure the delivery of this additional natural gas shipment to its Italian partners including Eni, APS said.
Algeria has already delivered 13.9 billion cubic meters of gas to Italy so far in 2022. In 2021, the North African country exported 21.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Italy.
According to a gas deal reached by the two countries' energy giants in April, Algeria is due to deliver an additional 9 billion cubic meters of gas per year to Italy by 2023-24.
Russia, a top supplier of the EU's gas, has reduced its supplies to Italy and other European countries in reaction to the EU sanctions imposed on the country in the wake of the outbreak of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The EU has also decided to cut gas imports from Russia. ■