Green hydrogen: importance of partnership with the EU for effective development of the sector

ALGIERS – Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab affirmed, Monday in Algiers, that the energy partnership with the European Union (EU) was “essential and important” for the effective development of clean hydrogen production. in Algeria.

In his opening speech, read on his behalf by the Secretary General of the ministry, Abdelkrim Aouissi, during a meeting entitled “Towards an economy based on green hydrogen: strategies, regulatory frameworks and current projects”, Mr. Arkab indicated that the development of hydrogen in Algeria and its export required continued cooperation within the framework of a high-level technical dialogue between Algerian and European experts, able to allow “an exchange of expertise and a transfer European technologies in this field.

The minister underlined, during this meeting organized by the ministry in collaboration with the delegation of the European Union (EU) in Algeria, the importance of this cooperation in reducing the risks linked to the development of this new sector, “at best interests of both parties”, citing “several pilot and experimental projects” launched across the country, some of which fall within the framework of the strategic partnership with the EU. These projects will make it possible to control all value chains for the development and production of hydrogen,” he added.

The minister also cited two pilot projects launched by Sonatrach in the south of the country, with a capacity of 2 to 4 megawatts each, as well as a study on the feasibility of “e-methanol” type fuel production projects. ” and “e-kerosene”, in addition to a semi-industrial reference project in Arzew to develop a hydrogen production unit with a capacity of 50 megawatts, with the contribution of the German government via the development bank dedicated to the development of the Hydrogen sector.

During the next phase which will begin from 2030, the national roadmap for the “progressive and efficient” development of this sector will be structured around the implementation of several industrial projects with a total capacity of more than 1 million tonnes. /year, “which we must prepare very well with our European partners”, specified Mr. Arkab, emphasizing the imperative examination and analysis of transport routes, and connection projects via the southern hydrogen corridor (SoutH2) , and its technical aspects, such as the use of available infrastructure for the realization of this project.

The minister also affirmed that Algeria attached “major interest” to the development of an integrated clean hydrogen sector, in particular through the development of a national strategy based on several axes, including the implementation in place of an enabling environment, including regulatory and institutional frameworks, in addition to the development of human capital, industrial integration and international cooperation.

For his part, the Head of the EU delegation in Algeria, Thomas Eckert, highlighted Algeria’s assets, capable of allowing it to play “an important role” on the continental and international scene, in as an important source of hydrogen in the future, particularly for supplying the European market.

Mr. Thomas Eckert also indicated that the European Union was working to establish a “dynamic” local market, specifying that this would lead EU countries, in the medium term, to import the equivalent of 50% green hydrogen to meet European demand. And to add, that the energy transition in the EU is experiencing rapid progress, particularly with regard to the integration of green hydrogen into the energy mix, and this through win-win partnerships with partners of the EU.

As a reminder, this meeting is part of the strengthening of the strategic energy partnership between Algeria and the European Union, in accordance with the results of the 5th annual high-level strategic dialogue meeting on Energy between Algeria and the EU, held on October 5, 2023 in Brussels, between the Minister of Energy and Mines, and the Energy Commissioner at the level of the European Commission.

APS