Algeria currently supplies 30 percent of the gas required by Italy, and 40 percent comes from Russia, according to official figures.
Draghi’s visit, which will last two days, was a prelude to that of the chairman of the Italian energy group Eni, Claudio Descalzi, a few days ago, during which he met with Toufik Hakar, president of Sonatrach, the Algerian hydrocarbons agency, with whom he reviewed the state the bilateral partnership.
The exchanges between Rome and Algiers take place in the midst of a diplomatic crisis between Algeria and the Spanish Government, whose head, Pedro Sanchez, announced the recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
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