Algeria's LNG exports slump to six‑year low as green hydrogen ranks among Africa's cheapest

In the first half of 2026 Algeria exported only 4.47 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG), the lowest semi‑annual volume recorded since at least 2013. The drop of 6.5 % from the same period in 2025 is attributed by Sonatrach and authorities to extensive maintenance work at the Arzew and Skikda liquefaction complexes, but analysts note deeper structural issues such as aging infrastructure, limited investment, and a heavy reliance on a narrow group of buyers—Turkey, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Spain together absorb about 90 % of Algerian LNG shipments.

Separately, an International Energy Agency (IEA) report places Algeria as the second‑cheapest African country for green‑hydrogen production by 2030, with projected costs below $4.5 per kilogram. The study highlights Algeria’s abundant solar and wind resources, which give it roughly 14 % of the region’s renewable‑energy capacity, and identifies capital cost (WACC) as the key driver of production cost. These findings suggest the nation could become a competitive supplier of low‑carbon fuel in the coming decade.