British collusion with a corrupt and authoritarian Regime Britain is consistently prioritising fossil fuel interests over human rights and democratic principles in relation to Algeria. In the process, foreign policy is actively helping to shore up a highly repressive and corrupt regime, contributing to its longevity. Yet the FCO has ignored these conclusions and continued a ‘business first’ approach in Algeria. The Algerian regime is a serious human rights offender, characterised by ongoing authoritarian practices and endemic corruption at a huge scale. The collusion with such a regime for the sake of business interests or securing fossil fuel supplies is in stark contrast to Western rhetoric of promoting democracy and human rights. a) Why Britain wants algeria’s fossil fuel reserves? Gas currently forms an integral part of the UK’s energy generation mix, generating 40% of electricity in 2011.5 As domestic extraction diminishes, the government is expecting that imports will account for a higher proportion of the gas supply. Algeria is one of the UK’s closest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) providing countries. Algerian authorities like to emphasise the country’s reputation as a reliable and “stable” supplier of gas that honours its contracts, with few interruptions to its pipeline exports. Algeria is seen as well positioned to meet the growing demand. As the largest country in Africa, it has the advantage of both an abundance of hydrocarbons, existing gas transportation infrastructure and proximity to southern Europe. Currently, Algeria exports 16.2 billion cubic metres (bcm) per year of LNG, with plans to expand this to 21 bcm a year by 2016. It stands as the third largest supplier of gas to Europe after Russia and Norway.6 The UK and Algeria have a long history of LNG collaboration spanning fifty years, with the world’s first commercial LNG shipment delivering fuel from Arzew to Canvey Island in the Thames Estuary. algeria has the largest proven natural gas reserves in africa and has been identified as a priority market in the department of energy and climate change’s Energy Security Policy. 7 A recent UK Trade and Investment Defence Security Organisation briefing argued that Algeria could provide about 10% of the UK’s gas demand in coming years via the newly-expanded Isle of Grain LNG terminal in Kent.8 The oil and gas export terminal at Arzew, West of Algeria.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Mar 2014 18:30:22 +0000
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