The CEO of Sonatrach, Toufik Hakkar, and the General Manager of Eni – Natural Resources, Alessandro Puliti, met today in Algiers to review the progress of Eni’s activities in the country.

Sonatrach and Eni agreed to accelerate 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. A road map was outlined for the joint assessment of the technical and commercial feasibility of a pilot project to produce hydrogen using electricity generated from renewable sources (solar and wind). In addition, in order to preserve the country’s water resources, the use of water produced by oil fields will be evaluated for the electrolysis processes necessary for the production of hydrogen, appropriately treated through dedicated plants.

The two companies reiterated their intention to accelerate cooperation for the common goal of reducing the carbon footprint of their respective activities. The ongoing projects are aimed at improving the energy efficiency of the processes, the electrification of treatment plants, the abatement of fugitive methane emissions and the parallel development of projects dedicated to new zero-emission energy solutions.

Eni has been present in Algeria since 1981. With an equity production of 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, Eni is the leading international company in the country.