The Sonatrach group launched its new climate strategy on Monday, providing for a series of measures and projects, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the level of integration of renewable energies, and developing natural and technological carbon sequestration solutions.
The New Strategy was signed at the headquarters of the group’s General Management, by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Rachid Hachichi, in the presence of the Ministers of Energy and Mines, Mr. Mohamed Arkab, and the Environment and Renewable Energy, Ms. Fazia Dahleb.
The signing ceremony also saw the presence of the Presidents of the Hydrocarbon Regulatory Agency (ARH), and the National Agency for the Development of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT), in addition to representatives of organizations concerned by the climate and senior executives of the Sonatrach group.
Sonatrach’s Strategy is based on investment, capacity building, technology transfer, and the reduction of gas flaring and methane emissions, the progressive integration of various renewable energies into the energy mix, and the development of new sectors such as low-carbon fuels and green hydrogen.
The group will also work to promote research, development, and innovation in the areas concerned by concluding some strategic partnerships, in parallel with the establishment of “climate governance” encompassing all processes, policies, and practices necessary to manage the impact of the Company’s activities on the climate and minimize its environmental risks
The Strategy also aims to improve the energy efficiency of installations, develop natural carbon capture reservoirs through an ambitious afforestation program, and study the safest and most efficient technological solutions for carbon capture.
The Sonatrach Group aims, through the new Climate strategy, to absorb greenhouse gases and eliminate them “completely” through carbon sinks, during the second half of the century, according to the explanations presented on this occasion.
The strategy includes practically, a series of solutions to recover the gases burned in the operating units, adding to the nineteen (19) projects that have been launched successively since 2020, thus allowing the reduction of gases greenhouse of 785,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent/year.
Under this new strategy, Sonatrach will use the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) to estimate the volume of gas burned.
Furthermore and as part of the Sonatrach project relating to the planting of more than 400 million trees, the cost of which is estimated at one (1) billion USD, a pilot project will be launched to plant 10 million trees on an area of 13,000 hectares in two (2) years, to acquire the necessary experience to succeed in this project.
In a speech delivered on occasion, Mr. Arkab affirmed that thanks to this new strategy, the energy sector, through Sonatrach, displayed “a tangible and remarkable commitment by effectively addressing the issues on climate and the environment”, noting that this strategy will highlight Sonatrach’s commitments in the fight against climate change, following Algeria’s international commitments, particularly within the framework of the Paris Convention.
For the Minister of Energy, this strategy is capable of providing greater clarity to the various approaches undertaken for years by Sonatrach in the fight against climate change.
Mr. Arkab recalled, on this occasion, the participation of the Sonatrach group in numerous global initiatives for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as well as its cooperation with the World Bank and ASAL to improve techniques measuring and reducing emissions generated by oil and gas activities.
Sonatrach’s climate strategy consists of the “progressive” energy transition and the integration of technological innovation to limit the carbon footprint, continues Mr. Arkab, affirming that this transition is “of vital importance” for the sector.
Speaking on this occasion, the Minister of the Environment and Renewable Energy described the announcement of Sonatrach’s new climate strategy as “an important event” in the field of the fight against climate change in Algeria, being a “main” energy player both locally and internationally.
By announcing its new strategy, Sonatrach has taken an important step in Algeria’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gases and contributing to the fight against climate change, adds Ms. Dahlab who noted that Sonatrach’s commitment to reducing burned gases and its support for various initiatives was “a big step towards limiting greenhouse gas emissions in our country”.
In this sense, she underlined the need to support this approach and “take advantage of it in our international relations, particularly within the framework of the Paris Convention”.
In his speech, the CEO of the Sonatrach group affirmed that his firm was fully aware of its responsibility and the role it must assume in the global response to climate risks, displaying the determination of his group to mobilize all available capacities to mitigate climate change and protect the environment.
Mr. Hachichi was keen to emphasize that Sonatrach “in its capacity as a leader in the hydrocarbon sector, aspires to set an example and be a reference in terms of environmental and climate responsibility”, adding that his group “is committed to strengthening transparency in its links with all partners and stakeholders by regularly reporting on the actions undertaken, the objectives set and the results obtained.
