Italy’s energy giant Eni and Algerian LNG export terminal operator Sonatrach are planning a pilot project to produce green hydrogen in Algeria as they look to slash emissions.
Sonatrach CEO Toufik Hakkar and Alessandro Puliti, Eni’s COO, natural resources, met in Algiers on Wednesday.
The two officials agreed to boost cooperation in the technological field, building on the memorandum of understanding the two companies signed last March in Milan, with specific focus on hydrogen production.
Eni said in a statement the partners would work on the “technical and commercial feasibility of a pilot project to produce hydrogen using electricity generated from renewable sources (solar and wind).”
In addition, the duo would evaluate using water produced by oil fields for the electrolysis processes necessary for the production of hydrogen, the statement said.
Eni says it has an equity production of 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in Algeria, making it the leading foreign company in the country.
On the other side, Algerian state energy firm Sonatrach operates both of the country’s LNG export terminals, namely Skikda and Arzew.
To remind, Sonatrach said in June it had closed its Skikda LNG export plant following a technical issue at the facility.
