Eni S.p.A. (Rome, Italy) has signed an agreement with the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) and the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) to assess the technical and commercial feasibility of projects for the production of hydrogen in the country.
The parties will conduct a study into joint projects to produce green hydrogen, using electricity generated from renewables, and blue hydrogen, through the storage of CO2 in depleted natural gas fields.
The study will also analyze the potential local market consumption of hydrogen and export opportunities. In addition, possible development and business schemes will be evaluated to implement the selected projects.
The agreement is part of the path that Eni has undertaken to reach the target of eliminating Scopes 1, 2 and 3 net emissions (Net GHG Lifecycle Emissions) and cancelling out the relative emission intensity (Net Carbon Intensity) by 2050, referring to the entire life cycle of the energy products sold. It comes in the framework of Egypt’s strategy for energy transition, diversifying energy mix and developing hydrogen projects in cooperation with major international companies.
Separately, Eni also agreed with Sonatrach (Algiers, Algeria) to accelerate cooperation in the technological field, building on the Memorandum of Understanding the two companies signed last March in Milan, with specific focus on hydrogen production. A road map was outlined for the joint assessment of the technical and commercial feasibility of a pilot project to produce hydrogen using electricity generated from renewable sources (solar and wind). In addition, in order to preserve the country’s water resources, the use of water produced by oil fields will be evaluated for the electrolysis processes necessary for the production of hydrogen, appropriately treated through dedicated plants.
The two companies reiterated their intention to accelerate cooperation for the common goal of reducing the carbon footprint of their respective activities. The ongoing projects are aimed at improving the energy efficiency of the processes, the electrification of treatment plants, the abatement of fugitive methane emissions and the parallel development of projects dedicated to new zero-emission energy solutions.