Background

The U.S.-Algerian Ministerial LNG Summit evolved as a result of meetings between President Bush and Algerian President Bouteflika in July 2001 where discussions focused around increasing Algerian LNG exports to the United States. The Department of Energy continued those discussions at various times over the ensuing months. These included meetings with the Algerian Ambassador to the United States where decisions were reached about the considerable interest among government and business entities in discussing Algeria's potential and to restore its role as a secure, major supplier of LNG to the United States. In June 2002 Algerian President Bouteflika and Secretary of Energy Abraham continued dialogue and agreed to co-host a summit.

The 2002 U.S.-Algerian Ministerial LNG Summit

The first U.S.-Algerian Ministerial LNG Summit was co-hosted by Secretary Spencer Abraham and Algerian Energy and Mines Minister Chakib Khelil on November 6-7, 2002, in Washington, DC.

More than a hundred representatives from the U.S. and Algerian governments and the oil, gas, and business communities participated in the Summit. The participants recognized (1) Algeria's strategic location with respect to the Atlantic gas market and its position as a major world LNG exporter, (2) noted the reform process underway in Algeria to open the electricity sector, (3) efforts by Algeria to pass a new draft hydrocarbon law, (4) Algeria's recognition of the need for an open, transparent and competitive bidding process, and (5) the growing importance of U.S. corporate investments in Algeria's oil and gas sector.