RoydadNaft –  Germany’s foreign minister said Berlin is negotiating long-term gas contracts with Algeria to diversify supply and secure energy before winter, after a sharp drop in Russian imports, low German storage, and added market pressure from the war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

According to Roydad Naft, citing Euronews, Johann Wadephul announced the talks on Wednesday during a visit to Algeria, saying Berlin wants agreements on Algerian gas imports and a broader mix of energy sources.

“We need to diversify our sources… We need long-term gas contracts,” Wadephul told Germany’s public broadcaster ZDF.

He said he would meet Algerian Energy Minister Mourad Adjal and that representatives of German companies seeking long-term gas deals were traveling with him.

Pointing to Algeria’s existing gas contracts with Spain and Italy, Wadephul said: “I hope Germany can now also meet part of its gas needs from here. That is our main interest.”

The European Union’s largest economy relied heavily on cheap Russian gas before the war in Ukraine. After Russia’s military operation in Ukraine began in 2022, most Russian pipeline exports to Europe stopped, putting heavy strain on German industry.

Berlin has since replaced much of that supply with pipeline gas from Norway and U.S. liquefied natural gas. LNG prices, however, are usually higher and more volatile than gas delivered under long-term pipeline contracts.

At the same time, the war among the United States, Israel, and Iran has added further pressure on energy markets and gas prices, raising concern about a possible energy crunch this winter.

“Since there is no prospect of a quick end to either crisis, it is clear that we must diversify our sources. We need more suppliers,” Wadephul said.

After the 2022 gas crisis, the German government set a mandatory minimum storage level to limit sharp spikes in spot prices and to allow the state to step in as a buyer if needed.