Türkiye Extends LNG Supply Deal with Algeria Until 2027

Erdogan and the Algerian prime minister during an economic forum on Tuesday. (Turkish presidency) 
Erdogan and the Algerian prime minister during an economic forum on Tuesday. (Turkish presidency) 
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Türkiye Extends LNG Supply Deal with Algeria Until 2027

Erdogan and the Algerian prime minister during an economic forum on Tuesday. (Turkish presidency) 
Erdogan and the Algerian prime minister during an economic forum on Tuesday. (Turkish presidency) 

Türkiye has extended its liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply deal with Algeria for three years, as the two countries agreed to boost trade to $10 billion.

The Turkish Energy Minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, said the current contract has been extended until 2027. It was scheduled to expire in October 2024.

In a statement on X, Bayraktar said that the deal was signed on Tuesday at the second meeting of the High-Level Cooperation Council between Türkiye and Algeria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune were present.

The original gas supply agreement between Botas and Sonatrach was signed in 1988 and has since been renewed.

Türkiye will continue to buy 4.4 billion cubic meters (bcm) of LNG from Algeria annually, Bayraktar added.

Around 1,400 companies with Turkish partners operating in Algeria provide employment to approximately 5,000 Algerians, Erdogan said at the Algeria-Türkiye Business Forum.

"The market value of our companies' investments has approached $6 billion. With these figures, Türkiye is the country that makes the most investments and provides the most employment in Algeria, excluding oil and natural gas," Erdogan said.

During Erdogan’s visit to Algeria, the two countries signed 12 agreements in various fields.

Both sides projected an increase in bilateral trade to $6 billion by the end of the current year, stressing that they target trade worth $10 billion in the mid-term.

Turkish official figures showed that trade increased by 30% last year.

LNG and crude oil represent 90% of the oil products that Algeria exports to Türkiye.

Erdogan further commended the Algerian efforts to enhance domestic output and its capabilities in the non-hydrocarbon sectors.

"With the efforts we will increase, we hope to reach the target of $10 billion in trade volume that we set with my brother Tebboune in a short time," he said.

The Turkish president underlined that Ankara would continue to provide the necessary facilities for Algerians to increase their investments in Türkiye.

Addressing the Algeria-Türkiye Business Forum, Algerian Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui said that his country looks forward to achieving many gains through the enhancement of the business climate, the contribution of Turkish investors to build a fruitful economic partnership with their Algerian counterparts, the embodiment of a diversification-based economy, mutual interests, and the win-win cooperation.

Larbaoui added that both countries’ economies offer opportunities that could help realize the target of $10 billion in trade in the medium term.



Gold Set for Brightest Year Since 2010 on Rate Cuts, Safe-haven Demand

Ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/FILE PHOTO
Ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/FILE PHOTO
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Gold Set for Brightest Year Since 2010 on Rate Cuts, Safe-haven Demand

Ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/FILE PHOTO
Ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/FILE PHOTO

Gold prices were set to end a record-breaking year on a positive note on Tuesday as robust central bank buying, geopolitical uncertainties and monetary policy easing fuelled the safe-haven metal's strongest annual performance since 2010.

Spot gold rose 0.1% to $2,607.72 per ounce as of 1315 GMT, while US gold futures gained 0.1% to $2,620.40.

As one of the best-performing assets of 2024, bullion has gained more than 26% year-to-date, the biggest annual jump since 2010, and last scaled a record high of $2,790.15 on Oct. 31 after a series of record-breaking rallies throughout the year.

"Rising geopolitical risks, demand from central banks, easing of monetary policy by central banks globally, and the resumption of inflows into gold-linked Exchange-Traded Commodities (ETC) were the primary drivers of gold's rally in 2024," said Aneeka Gupta, director of macroeconomic research at WisdomTree, Reuters reported.

The metal is likely to remain supported in 2025 despite some headwinds from a stronger US dollar and a slower pace of easing by the Federal Reserve, Gupta added.

The US Fed delivered a third consecutive interest rate cut this month but flagged fewer rate cuts for 2025.

Donald Trump's incoming administration was also poised to significantly impact global economic policies, encompassing tariffs, deregulation, and tax amendments.

"Bullion bulls may enjoy another stellar year ahead if global geopolitical tensions are ramped up under Trump 2.0, potentially pushing investors towards this time-tested safe haven," said Exinity Group Chief Market Analyst Han Tan.

Bullion is often regarded as a hedge against geopolitical and economic risks and tends to perform well in low-interest-rate environments.

"We expect gold to rally to $3,000/t oz on structurally higher central bank demand and a cyclical and gradual boost to ETF holdings from Fed rate cuts," said Daan Struyven, commodities strategist at Goldman Sachs.

Spot silver fell 0.3% to $28.85 per ounce, palladium was steady at $901.03 and platinum was little changed at $904.23.

Silver is headed for its best year since 2020, having added nearly 22% so far. Platinum and palladium are set for annual losses and have dipped over 8% and 17%, respectively.