Tunisia is set to attend a crucial meeting in Algeria on October 1, 2025, for the second ministerial meeting on the SoutH2 Corridor project. This project aims to transport renewable hydrogen produced in North Africa to Italy, Austria, and Germany. The meeting will bring together five partner countries: Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, Germany, and Austria. This gathering follows the first ministerial meeting in Rome on January 21, 2025, where the countries signed a joint declaration of political intentions.
The upcoming meeting in Algeria is expected to focus on the technical and financial aspects of the project. The goal is to transform political commitments into concrete implementation plans. The SoutH2 Corridor is envisioned as an infrastructure of approximately 3,300 kilometers, connecting North Africa to major industrial hubs in Central Europe. The project aims for a capacity of around 4 million tons of renewable hydrogen per year.
A significant portion of the infrastructure, over 65%, is planned to utilize existing gas pipelines adapted for hydrogen transport. This technical aspect is a key driver of the project. Tunisia plays a vital role in the North African segment, connecting production areas to Italy. The North Africa Hydrogen Backbone project, developed by SeaCorridor, includes a subsea link between Cap Bon and Mazara del Vallo in Sicily, as well as terrestrial infrastructure to connect Tunisian and Algerian production zones to the network.
The European Commission has recognized the importance of this project, granting it the status of Project of Mutual Interest for the link between Cap Bon and Italy. Similarly, the European segments of the SoutH2 Corridor have been designated as Projects of Common Interest. The Commission expects the corridor to contribute to the development of renewable hydrogen production in North Africa and the creation of necessary infrastructure for its transportation to European markets.
Tunisia has its own projects that could potentially feed into this infrastructure. In July 2025, the Italian agency ANSA reported that Tunisia was working on several green hydrogen initiatives, including a project by Acwa Power aiming for an annual capacity of around 600,000 tons of green hydrogen for export to Europe. These projects align with the country's goal of becoming a significant player in the renewable hydrogen market.
The main challenge at the upcoming meeting in Algeria will be to determine the extent to which the five partners will commit to the next steps. Previous agreements have established the political framework for the corridor, but several critical parameters, such as the exact route of national infrastructure and financing details, remain to be clarified. The meeting's outcome will be crucial in defining the project's future and Tunisia's role within it.
The success of the SoutH2 Corridor project could have significant implications for Tunisia's energy sector and economy. As the country prepares to play a key role in the North African segment, it is expected to benefit from the creation of new infrastructure and job opportunities. The project's progress will be closely watched by stakeholders in the region and beyond.
Key points
- The SoutH2 Corridor project aims to transport 4 million tons of renewable hydrogen per year from North Africa to Europe.
- Tunisia plays a crucial role in the North African segment, connecting production areas to Italy.
- The project has been recognized by the European Commission as a Project of Mutual Interest.
