Germany and Algeria are intensifying their ties to boost green hydrogen production, with a strong focus on collaboration for the development of key infrastructures and the implementation of pioneering projects.

The agreement between the two countries includes the creation of a bilateral working group on hydrogen, underlining the joint commitment of both nations in the energy field. In addition, the installation of a hydrogen pilot plant was announced.

Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, Robert Habeck, and his Algerian counterpart, Mohamed Arkab, sealed this agreement with the signing of a declaration of intent in Algiers, underlining the shared drive towards a greener and more prosperous energy future.

Habeck noted that "Germany and Algeria have had a close energy partnership since 2015. Now we want to expand it and encourage Algeria to produce more green hydrogen in the future, invest more in solar and wind energy and thus create new added value of its own. We want to support it with know-how and technical expertise. Germany and the EU are ready and waiting as potential customers for green hydrogen. It is now a matter of creating the necessary technical and economic conditions for hydrogen supply between Algeria and Europe."

The Algerian-German Hydrogen Working Group aims to promote the framework conditions for the production, storage and transport of green hydrogen and its derivatives. The bilateral cooperation aims to support private sector investment in both countries to contribute to energy security in Europe and, at the same time, to the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement.

The signing of the agreement followed a high-level exchange with the ministers, business representatives and experts involved, who had previously held an intensive roundtable discussion on the potential and challenges of renewable energy expansion, hydrogen, financing, transport and absorption.

Also invited were representatives of the European Commission, Italy, Austria and Tunisia, who jointly support the creation of a "SoutH2 Corridor". This corridor foresees the conversion and extension of the existing pipeline for renewable hydrogen from Algeria to southern Germany via Tunisia, Italy and Austria. Algeria aims to become a major producer of green hydrogen and aims to export 10% of EU demand by 2040. This could improve the country's own economic prospects, create new jobs and gradually shift its energy sector away from gas.

The "SoutH2 Corridor" aims to contribute to Europe's security of energy supply and is an important element in the diversification of energy imports.