The Algerian government has taken a significant step towards developing the SoutH2 Corridor project, a strategic initiative aimed at transporting green hydrogen from Algeria to Europe. On October 1, 2026, the ministers of energy from Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, Austria, and Germany signed the Algerian Ministerial Declaration. The declaration was signed at the Abdelatif-Rahal International Conference Center in Algiers. The project aims to create a dedicated secretariat for technical support, with the assistance of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
The SoutH2 Corridor project is expected to play a crucial role in promoting regional and Euro-Mediterranean integration in the field of green energy. The project involves the transportation of 4 million tons of green hydrogen per year from Algeria to three European countries over a distance of 3,000 km. This volume represents 10% of the expected European demand for this clean fuel by 2040. The declaration emphasizes the importance of political support in pursuing the development of the project.
The ministerial meeting was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Algerian Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies Mourad Adjal, Austrian Federal Minister of Economy, Energy, and Tourism Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Italian Minister of Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto, German Federal Minister of Economy and Energy Frank Wetzel, and Tunisian Minister of Equipment and Housing Slah Zouari. The meeting also saw the participation of ambassadors from the countries involved in the project and representatives of companies engaged in the initiative.
The Algerian government has been actively working on the project since October 2024, when Sonatrach and Sonelgaz signed a memorandum of understanding with German, Italian, and Austrian companies to conduct studies on the feasibility and profitability of an integrated project for the production of green hydrogen in Algeria and its export to Europe. The project gained momentum during the visit of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to Germany in July 2026.
The first meeting of ministers of energy concerned with the SoutH2 Corridor project was held in Rome in January 2025, resulting in the signature of a joint declaration of political intentions on the strategic project. The parties signatory to the declaration pledged to strengthen cooperation to develop the project by intensifying collaboration within a common working group. The project is seen as a key driver of regional and Euro-Mediterranean integration in the field of green energy.
The development of the SoutH2 Corridor project is expected to have a positive impact on the regional and global energy landscape. The project aims to promote a partnership between the two shores of the Mediterranean in the energy field, while contributing to the development and strengthening of economic relations. The Algerian government has expressed its commitment to working closely with the countries involved in the project to ensure its successful implementation.
The implementation of the SoutH2 Corridor project is expected to contribute to the growth of the green hydrogen market in Europe and promote a cleaner energy mix. The project is also seen as an opportunity for Algeria to diversify its economy and develop its renewable energy sector. The Algerian government has been actively working to promote the development of renewable energy sources, including solar and wind power.
Key points
- The SoutH2 Corridor project aims to transport 4 million tons of green hydrogen per year from Algeria to Europe.
- The project involves the creation of a dedicated secretariat for technical support, with the assistance of UNIDO.
- The project is expected to play a crucial role in promoting regional and Euro-Mediterranean integration in the field of green energy.
