In a significant move toward sustainable development and environmental protection, Algeria’s Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohammed Arkab, has announced Sonatrach’s plans for a massive natural carbon storage project. The initiative involves planting 420 million trees over the next decade with an estimated investment of $1 billion.
Arkab made the announcement while overseeing the fifth Algerian-German Energy Day, held under the theme “Future Technologies that Unite Us – Renewable Energies and Green Hydrogen.” During the event, the minister underscored Algeria’s efforts to bolster its electrical transmission infrastructure and establish an electrical interconnection network with African countries.
Reaffirming Algeria’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with Germany, Arkab articulated the aspiration of his sector to build a robust strategic partnership that transcends mere commercial exchanges. He emphasized that the mutual benefits of such a partnership would be significant for both nations.
Algeria remains open to its German partners for bolstering technical and technological cooperation, Arkab added. He highlighted the country’s dedication to reducing methane emissions, reclaiming and utilizing this resource in the domestic market, and even exporting it.
In a forward-looking statement, Arkab revealed that Algeria aims to derive 30% of its energy mix from renewable sources by 2035 through an ambitious program. He stressed that the energy transition does not mean abandoning natural gas, which serves as a clean fuel and a conduit for achieving sustainable development.
In line with this, the minister stated, “Algeria intends to reduce its emissions and cut down the overall volume of flared gas to less than 1%. We are committed to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions by implementing monitoring measures in cooperation with our national and international partners.”
Moreover, Arkab pointed out that the development of green hydrogen is one of the primary objectives of the Algerian government. He asserted that the country possesses considerable capabilities that will enable it to play a significant regional role in this domain. While adhering to strict rules to limit gaseous emissions, Algeria also continues to invest increasingly in new energy sources to ensure energy security.
Lastly, the minister touched upon the search and exploration for rare materials, stating that it is one of the critical pillars of Algeria’s strategy, especially those used in electricity storage technologies. He also disclosed a 50-megawatt project for green hydrogen production, featuring a €35 million grant from the German government, further cementing the bilateral relations between the two nations.
