Germany, Algeria form task force to propel hydrogen development

Germany and Algeria are setting up a bilateral task force aimed at developing infrastructure and production capacity for green hydrogen in the North African country to facilitate exports to Europe.

German economy minister Robert Habeck and Algeria's minister of energy and mines Mohamed Arkab last week signed a declaration of intent as the two countries seek to work more closely on green hydrogen production.

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The cooperation also involves the establishment of a hydrogen pilot plant in Algeria.

The Algerian-German hydrogen task force will aim to enhance the framework for the production, storage, and transportation of green hydrogen and its derivatives. This bilateral cooperation seeks to foster private sector investments in both countries, thereby bolstering energy security in Europe.

"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, Habeck said during a roundtable.

"Germany and the EU stand ready as potential purchasing countries for green hydrogen. Now the focus is on establishing the necessary technical and economic conditions for hydrogen deliveries between Algeria and Europe," the minister added.

The establishment of the hydrogen task force aligns with a plan, endorsed by the governments of Germany, Italy, and Austria, to create a 3,300 km (2,051 miles) hydrogen corridor that will transport low-cost renewable hydrogen from North Africa to key clusters of demand in Europe.

Algeria aims to emerge as a leading producer of green hydrogen, with the goal of supplying 10% of the EU's demand by 2040.