Russia Builds Bridges with Algeria

Since Vladimir Putin’s visit to Algeria in 2006up to Dmitri Medvedev’s (Russian President) trip this year, Algerian-Russian relations have been something of a rollercoaster ride.

A low point came when Algeria rejected delivery of Russian Mig 29 planes, claiming they did not meet Algerian military specifications. The crisis continued, with Russia suspending delivery of Sukhoi-30 fighters because of nonpayment. Some analysts at the time even suggested that the entire situation had been exacerbated by French pressure on Algeria, with the former hoping to sell its Rafale fighters and increase its influence in the region.

Algeria, however, still has a few cards up its sleeve. As 2nd only to Nigeria in production of natural gas on the continent, and with some 4,550 billion cubic metres reserve, it is an important geopolitical entity to Russia.

According to Anbaa Moscu sources, Russian companies have started laying a gas pipe from southern Algeria to Sharshal. In addition, Rosneft, a company specializing in drilling and biological research, is exploring a huge petroleum field in the vast Algerian desert. Russian-owned heavyweight Lukoil is also interested in oil and gas projects in the area.

The importance Algeria attaches to the oil and gas sector has been emphasized by the formation of the Russian-Algerian Business Council. At a meeting in 2008, the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two powers caused consternation in Europe, as fears of a monopoly and price control on deliveries to Europe from their main suppliers of natural gas flared.

Russiais also keen to explore possible phosphate sources in Algeria and ostensibly, build a plant for the production of nitrogen and phosphate there.

Certainly, Russia and Algeria have ‘history’ together and Anbaa Moscu has witnessed it. From Russian recognition of Algeria as a sovereign state in 1962, Soviet experts’ involvement in developing the Algerian economy, joint projects such as the Al-Hajjar steel and iron plant and Annabah, the electro thermal station in Jijel, the Bani Zaid dam and the Al-Rar-Masoud gas pipeline, not to mention the thousands of Algerian students who have graduated from Russian and Soviet universities, the ties that bind these two powers are tight yet mutually comfortable.