Germany and Algeria boost cooperation with new hydrogen pact

Germany and Algeria have signed a declaration of intent to establish a bilateral hydrogen task force as part of their energy partnership. Furthermore, there are plans for a hydrogen pilot plant installation.

According to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the Algerian-German hydrogen task force is intended to promote the framework conditions for the production, storage and transport of green hydrogen and its derivatives and the bilateral cooperation is intended to support private sector investments in both countries in order to contribute to energy security in Europe and at the same time to the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck said: “Germany and Algeria have maintained a close energy partnership since 2015. We now want to expand this and encourage Algeria to produce more green hydrogen in the future, invest more in solar and wind energy and thus create its own added value… Germany and the EU are available as potential buyer countries for green hydrogen. Now it’s about creating the necessary technical and economic conditions for hydrogen deliveries between Algeria and Europe.”

Algeria aims to export 10% of the EU’s needs by 2040, the German ministry said, adding that, thereby, the country could improve its economic prospects, create new jobs and gradually shift its energy sector away from gas.

To remind, in 2023, Germany and Algeria discussed the planned conversion and expansion of the gas pipeline corridor for hydrogen from Algeria via Tunisia, Italy and Austria to southern Germany.

At the time, the Algerian Minister for Energy and Mining Mohamed Arkab and the Parliamentary State Secretary of BMWK Stefan Wenzel emphasized the great potential of German-Algerian relations, particularly visible in the areas of renewable energies, hydrogen and natural gas.