Tunisia, Algeria, Italy, Austria, and Germany Sign the Alger Ministerial Declaration on the SouthH2 Hydrogen Corridor
Alger, October 1, 2026 – Tunisia, Algeria, Italy, Austria, and Germany signed the Alger Ministerial Declaration on the SouthH2 hydrogen corridor project in Algeria on October 1, 2026. The agreement notably provides for the establishment of a dedicated secretariat for the project, with technical support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Structuring North Africa–Europe Cooperation
This new milestone aims to structure cooperation between North African countries and their European partners around the development of green hydrogen and the strengthening of energy security.
During the second ministerial meeting of the SouthH2 Corridor partner countries, Salah Zouari, Minister of Equipment and Housing, who is also in charge of managing the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy, called for a shift from exchanging visions to identifying concrete, evaluable, and financeable economic projects.
Tunisia’s Strategic Priorities
For Tunisia, the next steps will focus on:
- Assessing the feasibility of proposed projects.
- Evaluating their environmental impact.
- Strengthening cooperation in research, innovation, and technology transfer.
Tunisia intends to accelerate its investments in renewable energies and develop technologies related to green hydrogen and its derivatives. The Minister also highlighted the country’s strategic geographic position and its existing energy infrastructure, which could enable Tunisia to play a key role in a future regional clean energy transport chain linking North Africa and Europe.
However, the development of this sector must take into account:
- National energy needs.
- Available infrastructure.
- Environmental impacts.
Strengthening Mediterranean Energy Integration
The Alger ministerial meeting brought together representatives from the five partner countries: Algeria, Austria, Germany, Italy, and Tunisia. For Tunis, developing this cooperation is essential to:
- Strengthen energy integration between the two shores of the Mediterranean.
- Promote joint investment.
- Foster the development of new value chains.
The Tunisian government has reaffirmed its commitment to continuing dialogue with its Algerian and European partners on energy projects that can lead to tangible investments and concrete achievements.
