Algeria eyes hydrogen pipeline under Mediterranean to supply 10% of European demand
Current fossil gas link slated to eventually transport green H2 made from giant solar farms in Sahara Desert
Plans are underway to extend an already-existing gas pipeline corridor from Algeria to southern Germany via Tunisia and Italy —which will eventually transport green hydrogen, Germany’s economics and climate ministry said yesterday (Monday).
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The ministry unveiled the plans at the opening of a German-Algerian energy partnership meeting in Algiers attended by Algerian energy minister Mohamed Arkab and German state secretary for economics and climate protection Stefan Wenzel.
Algeria, a major gas supplier, hopes to eventually supply up to a tenth of Europe's green hydrogen demand.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Monday also visited Algeria, and closed deals for an Algerian-Italian ‘energy bridge’ with the aim of making Italy independent of Russian gas deliveries until the winter of 2024/25.
“And thanks to the new collaboration, we will further expand the existing connection between Africa and Italy.”
Italy’s previous Prime Minister Mario Draghi had negotiated a new cooperation agreement with Algeria that led to a doubling of gas deliveries to Italy to more than 20 billion cubic metres last year, a volume that is slated to be expanded to 36 billion cubic metres in coming years.