By Kamel M. Algeria is emerging as a key player in the energy sector, attracting increasing attention from French media, amidst a global energy crisis and ongoing diplomatic tensions between Algiers and Paris.
According to an analysis by BFMTV, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has highlighted the vulnerability of certain major powers. The media emphasizes that “the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has revealed a certain fragility in China’s energy, particularly in oil.”
Faced with this dependency, Beijing is seeking to diversify its sources. BFMTV explains that China “can at least partially mitigate this fragility by turning to other partners, especially to Algeria, a strategic country that presents many advantages for the Chinese, including great stability compared to the Middle East and an ideal geographic position between Europe and Africa.”
China has already established strong foundations in Algeria. According to BFMTV, China “has been investing there for years with its new silk roads,” allowing it to have a network of infrastructure and economic cooperation in place.
In this framework, Algeria plays a central role. BFMTV notes that the country is “very important for China in terms of hydrocarbons.” Despite efforts towards energy transition, oil remains essential for Beijing, which still heavily relies on imports to meet its consumption needs.
However, a significant portion of Chinese oil suppliers transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The media indicates that “almost all of these suppliers export their oil through the Strait of Hormuz,” highlighting the strategic importance of diversifying towards secure partners like Algeria.
The relations between Algiers and Beijing are already well established, particularly through the national company Sonatrach, which collaborates with Chinese groups in the hydrocarbon sector, as well as the involvement of companies like Sinopec in the exploitation of certain gas fields.
This dynamic is part of a broader strategy by China, aiming to secure its supplies while managing its energy transition. Algeria is becoming a space for energy equilibrium where it plays a structuring role, as noted in Paris.
At the same time, French media closely observe this evolution, while implicitly regretting that France has been misled by an Algerian policy seen as arrogant and counterproductive. In a context of worsened energy crisis due to the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East, Algeria is perceived as a key strategic supplier.
K. M.
