Physical Address
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Committed to a structured energy transition, Algeria has made green hydrogen a major strategic axis to build a sustainable, diversified and low-emission industry. This ambitious direction was highlighted this Monday by the Minister of State, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, during a high-level session organized in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the sidelines of the 21st General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
During an international session entitled: “Unlocking the potential of clean hydrogen through investment and innovation”, Mr. Arkab highlighted Algeria’s competitive advantage, driven by exceptional solar potential allowing large-scale and highly competitive production of renewable hydrogen.
The country has already reached several key stages: finalization of the regulatory framework, international cooperation around pilot projects, integration of specializations linked to hydrogen in higher education and scientific research, affirmed the minister, who also highlighted the incentive measures provided for in the 2026 finance law, including exemption from customs duties and taxes on the production of electrolysers and solar panels.
Among the structuring projects, Mr. Arkab recalled the launch of a high-level dialogue around the South H2 Corridor, intended to transport Algerian green hydrogen to Europe. This project benefits from direct support from the European Union, while UNIDO provides technical support.
Algeria is also involved in the national project “Algeria Project under the Global Clean Hydrogen Program”, part of the global clean hydrogen program and financed by the Global Environment Facility. This project aims to strengthen the preparation of the normative and regulatory framework, develop measurement and certification systems, increase technical and human capacities, and prepare the industrial infrastructure necessary for local uses of hydrogen.
According to Arkab, this initiative will help lay the foundations for a true national hydrogen economy, while diversifying Algerian industry and promoting the emergence of new sectors, particularly in fertilizers, clean mobility and green ammonia. It will also strengthen the country’s attractiveness for foreign investments and enable technology transfer for the benefit of public and industrial institutions and research centers, he said.
On the international level, Algeria will be able to rely on harmonized standards, access knowledge exchange platforms and strengthen South–South cooperation through the sharing of experiences and innovative solutions.
In this regard, Mr. Arkab reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to working together with its international partners to accelerate the global energy transition and promote clean hydrogen as an essential pillar of sustainable industrial development. He said he was convinced that the discussions during this session will make it possible to transform common ambitions into concrete results in the service of the energy future.
This session took place in parallel with the work of the 21st General Conference of UNIDO and brought together senior international officials, including the Algerian ambassadors to Austria and Saudi Arabia, as well as the president of the National Agency for Mining Activities, Mourad Hanifi. Participants also included Johann Saathoff, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, alongside representatives from several countries and international organizations.
In this regard, Mr. Arkab welcomed, in his speech, the organization of this meeting by UNIDO and the Global Environment Facility, while expressing his satisfaction at seeing Algeria selected as a partner country in this initiative aimed at promoting clean hydrogen as an energy solution of the future.
He recalled that Algeria adopted a national hydrogen strategy in 2023, supported by a progressive roadmap including the establishment of a regulatory framework, the launch of pilot projects, the expansion of production capacities and the development of an integrated industry across the entire value chain, intended for both the local market and export.