The Minister of State and Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, held talks on Thursday in Algiers with the Italian Minister of Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation and partnership between the two countries.
According to a ministry statement, the meeting took place during the Italian minister’s visit to Algeria to participate in a conference organized by the Bank of Algeria in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund, titled “North Africa: Connecting Continents and Creating Opportunities.”
During the meeting, both parties reviewed the current state and future prospects of cooperation and partnership between Algeria and Italy, which were described as excellent, particularly in the oil and gas industry through existing partnerships between Algerian companies and their Italian counterparts, such as the Sonatrach Group and Eni. They emphasized the importance of strengthening and expanding these partnerships.
The two sides also discussed investment and business opportunities, as well as ways to exchange expertise between companies in both countries, especially in the fields of hydrocarbons, knowledge and technology transfer, and reducing the carbon footprint and emissions in the oil and gas industry, in line with shared goals for sustainable development and energy transition.
The discussions also touched upon the “Mattei Plan” launched by Italy to enhance cooperation with African countries by supporting the development of their natural resources, particularly in energy, the oil and gas industry, infrastructure, and diversifying supply chains to ensure energy security and achieve sustainable economic development.
In this context, Arkab praised Italian efforts to promote a partnership based on mutual respect and shared interests with African countries, especially in the energy sector, which serves as a key driver for economic and social growth on the continent. He also highlighted Algeria’s pivotal role as a reliable supplier of natural gas in the Mediterranean region, particularly to Italy, while noting Algeria’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, primarily methane, and the environmental programs adopted by Sonatrach, including reforestation and carbon footprint reduction plans.
He further noted the challenges associated with the success of the energy transition, particularly regarding investment volume and technological mastery. He stressed the importance of increasing the participation of European companies, especially Italian ones, in natural gas development projects, the gas industry, phosphate exploitation and processing, as well as carbon emission reduction projects.
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