Germany will receive its first supplies of pipeline natural gas from Algeria under a medium-term contract signed between a subsidiary of trader VNG AG and state-owned oil and gas firm Sonatrach, the companies said on Thursday. "We are happy to strengthen our energy business partnerships with Europe through this landmark agreement with the company VNG," Sonatrach CEO Rachid Hachichi said in a statement. This makes VNG the first German company to purchase pipeline gas from Algeria, the statement cited VNG's CEO as saying. The agreement is with Leipzig-based VNG Handel & Vertrieb GmbH (VNG), a wholly owned subsidiary of VNG…