ALGIERS – Tuesday, 11 October 2022 (APS) – Algeria is one of the “most reliable” partners of the European Union (EU) in the field of energy and it is “natural” to turn to it when European energy markets are facing turbulence, said Tuesday in Algiers, the European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson.
The EU and Algeria can jointly strengthen their energy cooperation sustainably as gas is “the central link” of the energy partnership between the two parties, underlined Simson at the Algeria-EU Business Forum chaired by Prime Minister, Aimene Benaderrahmane.
Stressing that the European market is “still 90% dependent on gas imports”, the European official welcomed the fact that Algeria is investing in new gas exploration and new production projects.
She also referred to the possibility of assisting Algeria to increase the volume of gas available for export by “recovering gas lost during flaring, venting or methane leaks.”
“The Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, and I discussed yesterday the ways to further develop this cooperation. The EU is ready to contribute with its know-how,” she assured.
Moreover, the new Algeria-EU energy cooperation means “work beyond gas”, according to Simson who spoke of potential cooperation in renewable energy and hydrogen.
Recalling that Algeria holds “one of the greatest solar energy potentials in the world”, Simson said that “the EU is ready to help Algeria to fully exploit this potential.”