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Algeria & Morocco: Natural Gas Cartels, Fertilizer Mercantilism, and Rising Tensions

Posted by jeffvail on July 14, 2008 - 10:00am
Topic: Policy/Politics
Tags: algeria, fertilizer, infrastructure protection, infrastructure targeting, lng, mercantilism, Morocco, natural gas, natural gas cartel, original, peak oil, phosphate [list all tags]

Algeria is one of the world’s most important oil and gas exporters. Morocco has no significant oil and gas production, but has about 2/3 of the world’s rock phosphate reserves, a critical component in global fertilizer supply that increased 300% in price in the past year (.pdf) and may peak alongside global oil production. The two nations have historically been at odds, especially over the phosphate-rich territory of Western Sahara. Now, more than ever, their exports are critical to the energy and food supplies of the world. Alongside increasing importance, tensions between the two are on the rise as the US and Russia provoke the situation with massive opposing arms deals and bi-lateral trade agreements. This article will look at the forces behind these rising tensions and consider issues of fertilizer mercantilism, infrastructure vulnerability, and the potential formation of a natural gas cartel.