SONATRACH and General Directorate of Forests Launch Major Carbon Sink Project

In a significant step toward enhancing environmental sustainability, SONATRACH, Algeria’s state-owned oil and gas company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the General Directorate of Forests.

This agreement aims to establish certified natural carbon sinks through a major forestation project. The MoU was signed today at the Mount Chenoua shooting range in Tipaza, coinciding with the commemoration of the December 11, 1960 demonstrations and International Mountains Day.

The initiative aligns with SONATRACH’s climate strategy, aiming to balance the company’s greenhouse gas emissions with natural carbon sinks capable of absorbing them. The project will cover 520,000 hectares across Algeria and involve the planting of over 423 million tree seedlings, contributing to afforestation, reforestation, and agroforestry. The project is expected to generate carbon credits and provide environmental, social, and economic benefits, including job creation and support for local farmers.

This ambitious project, which spans a 10-year period, is expected to reduce SONATRACH’s carbon footprint, enhance biodiversity, and promote sustainable practices. The first phase, a two-year pilot, will focus on expertise development in carbon credit generation, certification, and environmental management. Through this project, SONATRACH is not only investing in Algeria’s environmental future but also promoting social and economic development across the country.