The energy ministers of Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, Austria and Germany signed, Thursday in Algiers, the Algiers Ministerial Declaration related to the Southern Hydrogen Corridor project, in a step aimed at strengthening regional and Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in the field of clean energies.
The declaration essentially stipulates the establishment of a secretariat dedicated to technical support for the Southern Hydrogen Corridor project, accompanied by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which will contribute to providing the support mechanisms and expertise necessary to move the project forward.
The announcement highlights the strategic importance of the Southern Hydrogen Corridor as a project capable of supporting regional and Euro-Mediterranean integration in the field of energy, and enhancing cooperation between countries participating in the development of hydrogen and various related infrastructure.
The signatories expressed their full commitment to working together to develop a fruitful partnership between the two shores of the Mediterranean in the field of energy, and to participate in the development and prosperity of economic relations.
The launch of the second ministerial meeting of the Southern Hydrogen Corridor project in Algeria
Today, Thursday, October 1, 2026, the second ministerial meeting of energy ministers of the partner countries in the Southern Hydrogen Corridor Project “South H2” was opened in Algiers, with the participation of Algeria, Austria, Germany, Italy, and Tunisia, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation and push the project towards implementation.
The meeting will be held at the Abdul Latif Rahal International Conference Center, where participants will discuss the prospects for developing the partnership between the five countries and enhancing joint cooperation to support a sustainable energy future.
The project aims to transport about 4 million tons of green hydrogen annually from Algeria to Europe via a pipeline extending over a distance of approximately 3,000 kilometers, equivalent to about 10 percent of the expected European demand for this type of clean fuel by the year 2040.
The project represents one of the main paths for developing Algerian green hydrogen exports to the European market, as it is expected to benefit from the current natural gas pipeline networks after they have been modernized and adapted to be suitable for hydrogen transport.
Work on the project began in October 2024 in Oran, with Sonatrach and Sonelgaz signing a memorandum of understanding with German, Italian and Austrian companies, with the aim of completing studies related to the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of an integrated project to produce green hydrogen in Algeria and export it to Europe.
Cooperation in this field was strengthened during the visit of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to Germany last July, where Sonatrach signed two protocols of agreement with the companies “Robert Bosch” and “Siemens Energy” to enhance cooperation in the field of energy transition, including the manufacture of electrolysis devices and hydrogen production, in addition to the maintenance and repair of equipment and training.
The first ministerial meeting of the countries concerned with the project was held in Rome during January 2025, and culminated in the signing of a joint declaration of political intentions regarding the project, with an agreement to strengthen cooperation within a joint five-member working group.
