Written by: Ahmed Abdel Salam
Algeria and the Kingdom of Norway discussed ways to enhance bilateral partnership in the fields of clean energy and carbon emission reduction, a step aimed at broadening the horizons of energy cooperation and supporting sustainable technological solutions to improve the efficiency of resource utilization and energy efficiency.
Minister of State, Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, received the CEO of the Norwegian company Scatec, Terje Pilskog, at the ministry's headquarters, in the presence of the Norwegian Ambassador to Algeria and officials from both sides. The talks focused on exploring partnership and investment opportunities between the Sonatrach group and the company, which specializes in developing renewable energy projects, to support the reduction of operational costs and enhance the efficiency of energy resource utilization.
Plan to reduce emissions and improve environmental performance
The two sides discussed mechanisms for reducing the carbon footprint of the hydrocarbon sector and limiting methane and greenhouse gas emissions. The Algerian side reviewed the efforts of the Sonatrach group in reducing associated gas flaring and valorizing it, in addition to carbon capture and storage projects, which are paths that contribute to enhancing the economic value of resources and improving the environmental performance of oil and gas facilities.
Desalination and renewable energy projects
The discussions included exploring the possibility of relying on renewable energy in seawater desalination projects, in light of a strategic trend to diversify energy sources and link water supply security to the gradual transition towards low-emission systems. For his part, the CEO of Scatec expressed his company's interest in exploring investment opportunities with the Algerian side and exchanging expertise in the fields of renewable energy, emissions reduction, and the development of modern technical solutions.
These discussions come within the framework of Algeria's efforts to expand its international partnerships and benefit from modern technologies for the sustainability of hydrocarbon activities and the development of industrial applications for renewable energy. It is worth noting that Scatec, founded in 2007 in Oslo, is considered one of the prominent companies in the development and operation of renewable energy projects such as solar, wind, hydropower, and energy storage across several global markets.
