The Algerian Ministry of Energy announced in a statement today, Thursday, that the state-owned oil and gas company "Sonatrach" signed a commercial contract with the German company VNG to supply Germany with natural gas. The CEO of Sonatrach, Rachid Hachichi, stated in the announcement that "we are pleased to enhance our energy partnerships with Europe through this historic agreement with VNG." According to the agreement, VNG becomes the first German company to purchase natural gas from Algeria via pipeline, as stated by the CEO of the German company. Berlin has been compelled to seek new suppliers after it stopped importing Russian gas, which it had relied on for decades following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Algeria's natural gas production is 106 billion cubic meters annually, according to data from Sonatrach.