Algeria’s Arkab Meets with CEO of Italy’s Edison Company in Sorrento
Mohamed Arkab, the Algerian Minister of State, Minister of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energies, met on Friday in Sorrento, Italy, with Nicola Monti, the CEO of Edison, an Italian energy company. According to a communiqué released by the ministry, both parties reviewed their cooperative relations and explored potential partnership opportunities.
This meeting coincided with Arkab’s attendance at the fourth edition of the international forum titled “Verso Sud (Looking Southward): Europe’s strategy for a new geopolitical, economic and socio-cultural season in the Mediterranean,” which is currently being held in Sorrento.
The meeting was attended by prominent figures, including Rachid Hachichi, CEO of the Sonatrach Group; Mourad Adjal, CEO of the Sonelgaz Group; Algeria’s ambassador to Italy; the Consul General of Algeria in Naples; and other officials from the sector.
During the discussions, the parties examined the current state of cooperation and partnership opportunities between Sonatrach and Edison. They also considered ways to strengthen these ties through new structural projects in the energy sector, focusing on areas such as hydrocarbons, natural gas marketing, green hydrogen development, and enhancing energy infrastructure cooperation, as noted in the communiqué.
Additionally, talks included strategies to improve collaboration between Sonelgaz and Edison, particularly in electric transport, equipment manufacturing, and renewable energy.
The project for a direct electrical interconnection between Algeria and Italy was also discussed, highlighting Algeria’s substantial renewable energy potential to reinforce its role as a reliable supplier within the Mediterranean region.
In this context, the minister underscored the importance of relationships among enterprises in the sector, as well as between Algerian companies and their Italian counterparts, especially those engaged in various energy industries.
Both parties also addressed the “SoutH2 Corridor” project, aimed at exporting hydrogen, which is regarded as one of the promising strategic initiatives linked to the energy transition. They further explored opportunities for collaboration in areas such as training, expertise exchange, and technology transfer, according to the communiqué.
In this regard, they shared perspectives on strengthening South-South cooperation under the Mattei Plan, specifically by supporting African nations in developing their natural resources and modernizing their infrastructures to diversify supply chains, ensure energy security, and achieve sustainable and inclusive economic development.
Furthermore, both sides expressed satisfaction with the level of trust and understanding that characterizes the relationship between the Sonatrach Group and Edison, reaffirming their commitment to expanding the partnership and diversifying cooperation in the energy sector between Algeria and Italy, as stated in the same source.
