UK-Algeria cooperation

British Embassy and ESB organise green finance day to showcase UK expertise

On Wednesday 27^th October, the British Embassy in Algiers and Algeria’s Higher School of Banking (ESB) held a study day under the theme of ‘Green finance, a lever for sustainable development’. The day was designed to raise awareness among companies in the finance sector on the role of green finance as an essential vector in achieving the objectives of COP26. The day was attended by the Governor of the Bank of Algeria, Rosthom Fadli, the UK Ambassador to Algeria, Sharon Wardle, the Minister of the Environment, Samia Moualfi, the Junior Minister for Start-ups and the Knowledge Economy, Yacine El Mahdi Oualid, the President of the CNESE, Rèda Tir, representatives of banks and students of the ESB. Read more

UK policy updates

Boris Johnson tells UN that Cop26 must be ‘turning point for humanity’

On 22^nd September, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the UN general assembly in New York and insisted that the Cop26 summit starting on 31^st October must be a ‘turning point for humanity’. Johnson also highlighted technological developments that have made green energy cheaper and more accessible and warned that unless action is taken urgently, ‘we will have made this beautiful planet effectively uninhabitable.’ With weeks to go before the conference, the Prime Minister has been buoyed up by progress, including President Joe Biden’s commitment to double climate financing to 11.2 bn USD and China’s promise to halt the funding of coal-fired power stations overseas. Read more

Algeria policy updates

Minister of Energy Transition and Renewables presents strategy to government

On 4^th September 2021, the Minister of Energy Transition and Renewable Energies presented his department’s strategy for renewable energy and energy efficiency to the government. The long-term aim of the renewable energy programme is to install 15,000 MW by 2035. With regard to energy savings and efficiency, the Ministry’s plan for Energy Transition aims to achieve energy savings of 10% per year, notably by reaching agreements with various sectors, including the housing, transport and construction industries. In addition, the dedicated renewables company, baptised SHAEMS, is due to be operational by the last quarter of 2021. According to the presentation, consumers will also be encouraged to produce renewable energy for their own consumption in future via the introduction of incentives, approving solar kits for individual use and lifting regulatory constraints. Following the presentation, the Prime Minister Aymane Benabderrahmane insisted that all industries involved in developing renewable energies must make an effort to use these sources of energy, particularly in schools and public administrations. Read more

New law on energy transition expected soon

On 22^nd September, the Prime Minister Aymane Benabderrahmane announced that the new law on energy transition, which is currently being prepared, would ‘be unveiled in the coming weeks’. Benabderrahmane made the announcement while presenting the government’s Action Plan, which includes plans to ‘intensify efforts to ensure energy security by carrying out to achieve a balanced mix of energy sources by 2030’. Read more

Algeria project updates

1,000 MW tender to be launched soon

On 4^th September, the Minister of Energy Transition and Renewable Energies, confirmed that the invitation to tender for the construction of a number of photovoltaic power plants with a total capacity of 1,000 MW would be launched ‘soon’. Read more

Thought leadership

Capterio

Capterio provides gas flaring solutions for energy companies to capture flared gas, create value, reduce pollution, and improve reputation.

Accelerating the transition by eliminating flaring: an Algerian roadmap

By Mark Davis, Capterio

As the world’s 5th largest gas flarer, Algeria has much to gain from cleaning up its oil and gas industry – and reducing gas flaring.  It’s after all a “code red” country for gas flaring today.  By reducing gas flaring, Algeria could create revenues that could be re-invested into low carbon sources of energy and play a major role in the energy transition.

But whilst there is a growing realisation of the need to reduce gas flaring, some critical reforms are needed to accelerate action around the six areas of leadership, roadmap definition, data transparency, penalty enforcement, contractual overhaul and third-party capital.

Algeria has a limited window of opportunity to act, create value and lead the industry.  Plan B – more of the same – will have dramatically negative consequences, leading to a loss of revenue, competitiveness and continued decline.  It doesn’t have to be that way. Read the full paper

UK company initiatives

Neptune Energy

Neptune is one of the largest independent exploration and production companies in Europe. We’re strategically positioned in OECD countries and have substantial production assets in North Africa and the Asia Pacific region.

• Neptune Energy announces endorsement of the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative: On 21^st October, Neptune Energy announced it has endorsed the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative, which brings together governments, companies and development institutions to eliminate routine gas flaring in oil production no later than 2030. Neptune will report annually on its flaring and progress towards meeting the initiative’s objective. Read more

• Neptune Energy awarded silver medal status from ESG ratings organisation, EcoVadis: On 6^th August, Neptune Energy announced it has been awarded silver medal status from the Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings organisation, EcoVadis. The upgrade places Neptune in the top 25% of all 75,000 global organisations assessed by EcoVadis. In its report, EcoVadis highlighted Neptune’s disclosure of emissions data and quantitative targets, strong environmental management practices, and comprehensive ethics policies and procedures. Read more
• Neptune Energy today awarded subsidy for PosHYdon project: On 22^nd July, Neptune Energy today welcomed an announcement by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) to award a subsidy to the PosHYdon project, the world’s first offshore green hydrogen pilot on a working platform. The subsidy was awarded under the RVO’s Demonstration Energy and climate Innovation (DEI+) scheme, which invites funding applications for investments in renewable energy developments, including hydrogen pilots. Read more  

Petrofac

Petrofac is a leading international service provider to the energy industry. We design, build, manage and maintain infrastructure for the energy industries.

• Petrofac signs strategic partnership with green hydrogen firm, Protium: On 23^rd September,Petrofac announced the signing of a strategic partnership with leading UK green hydrogen energy company Protium. The two brands will leverage Petrofac’s technical engineering expertise during the early phases of Protium’s projects with the aim of delivering the full EPC offering to shared clients. Read more
• Petrofac and CO2 Capsol collaborate on carbon capture initiatives: On 16^th September, Petrofac announced has signed an agreement with carbon capture technology company, CO2 Capsol, which enables collaboration on carbon capture projects. Under the terms of the non-exclusive agreement, Petrofac will work as a preferred engineering services partner to support CO2 Capsol’s carbon capture opportunities across the UK, Europe and over time, globally. Read more
• Petrofac builds Direct Air Capture into its Net Zero plan: On 11^th August, Petrofac announced that it had become the first company to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as a customer for Storegga’s proposed UK-based, large scale Direct Air Capture (DAC) facility. Petrofac has committed to purchase the permanent removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at the facility, delivering a key tool to supplement existing decarbonisation initiatives in support of its Net Zero goals. Read more

• Petrofac to support negative emissions in Stockholm: On 20^th July, Petrofac, announced it has been awarded a front-end engineering design (FEED) contract for a planned CO2 capture facility at one of Stockholm Exergi’s combined heat and power (CHP) plants. This award, the first for Petrofac in Sweden, signals an important step in the Group’s growth strategy. The development of CO2 capture facilities at the 375 MW CHP biofuel power plant at Värtaverket will support Stockholm Exergi’s goal of reducing carbon emissions beyond net zero, while also meeting the energy needs of the city and the surrounding area. Read more

Equinor 

Equinor is a broad energy company with more than 21,000 employees, present in more than 30 countries worldwide. We develop oil, gas, wind, solar energy and low carbon solutions. Our headquarters are in Stavanger, Norway. We are listed on the New York and Oslo stock exchanges.

• Empire Wind selects turbine supplier: On 18^th October, Empire Offshore Wind, a joint venture between Equinor and bp, selected Vestas as its preferred supplier for wind turbine generators for both Empire Wind I and Empire Wind II, one of the largest offshore wind projects in the US. The deal would see Vestas deliver 138 V236-15MW wind turbine generators with a total generating capacity of around 2GW – for the two Empire Wind developments. Read more
• Equinor and Rosneft agree to cooperate on carbon management: On 28^th September, Equinor and Rosneft signed an agreement to collaborate on carbon management. The agreement builds on the two companies’ strategic partnership in Russia. Drawing on this longstanding cooperation and aiming to support the goals of the Paris Agreement, Equinor and Rosneft will join forces to develop low carbon solutions and reduce the carbon footprint from joint projects. Read more

• Equinor and Sonatrach agree to cooperate on blue hydrogen, reducing emissions etc.: On 5^th September Equinor and Sonatrach announced that they intend to extend their partnership beyond the terms of their current contracts, which are due to expire in 2027, notably in the Wilayas of In Salah and In Amenas. The two companies also discussed the prospect of cooperating in various areas focusing on reducing the impact of the oil and gas industry on the environment, developing blue hydrogen and reducing CO2 emissions and the industry’s carbon footprint. Read more

• Equinor leads New Ocean Grid project in the North Sea: On 3^rd September, the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, Iselin Nybø, announced that the Ocean Grid project, which is being led by Equinor, will get financial support of 82.7 million NOK, through the Green Platform scheme. The project will develop new technology, knowledge and solutions to enable a profitable development of offshore wind on the Norwegian continental shelf. It will look particularly at the way offshore wind will be connected to the grid. Read more
• Equinor to intensify collaboration on study to investigate potential for first large-scale offshore hydrogen park in the German North Sea: On 23^rd July, project partners RWE, Shell, Gasunie and Equinor signed a declaration of intent to further intensify their collaboration on the AquaSector project – the vision of the first large-scale German offshore hydrogen park. The project aims to demonstrate that in Germany offshore based hydrogen production enables an efficient, cost-effective and sustainable way to produce green hydrogen. Read more
• Equinor, RES and Green Giraffe team up for floating offshore wind growth in France: On 20^th July, Equinor, RES and Green Giraffe joined forces to form Océole, a partnership dedicated to developing floating offshore wind in France. Océole will evaluate and work towards submitting bids in the upcoming floating offshore wind tenders held by the French government. Read more
• Equinor ready to further develop floating offshore wind in Scotland: On 19^th July, Equinor confirmed it has bid for floating offshore wind in ScotWind, the competitive tender offshore wind seabed leasing round being undertaken by Crown Estate Scotland. The offshore energy company says the ScotWind Leasing round is a good strategic fit with its ambitions to continue to develop its North Sea offshore wind cluster and further deepen its presence across the UK. Read more

BP

BP is an integrated energy business with operations in Europe, North and South America, Australasia, Asia and Africa.

• East Coast Cluster selected as one of the UK’s first two carbon capture and storage projects: On 19^th October, the East Coast Cluster (ECC) was named as one of the UK’s first carbon capture, usage and storage clusters following a successful bid to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The ECC was named as a “Track-1” cluster, putting it on course for deployment by the mid-2020s. Read more

Lightsource BP joins Poland’s accelerated energy transition with 757MW deal:

On 19th October, Lightsource BP announced that it has secured its first projects in Poland through a 757MWp co-development deal. Lightsource BP plans to sell some power on the open market and is actively seeking large corporations to contract via long-term power purchase agreements. These projects will also participate in future rounds of Poland’s renewable energy auctions. Read more

• Lightsource BP launches Bighorn Solar project in Colorado: On 13^th October, Lightsource BP, together with Xcel Energy and EVRAZ North America, celebrated the dedication of its new 300-megawatt Bighorn Solar project. The solar project will help reduce emissions and support more than 1,000 jobs at EVRAZ’s Pueblo steel mill – the world’s first steel mill to be powered largely by solar energy. Read more
• BP investing almost $270 million to improve efficiency, reduce emissions and grow renewable diesel production at Cherry Point Refinery: On 4^th October, BP announced plans for a $269 million investment in three projects at its Cherry Point Refinery in Washington state, aimed at improving the refinery’s efficiency, reducing its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and increasing its renewable diesel production capability. These projects are expected to create more than 300 local jobs over the next three years. Read more
• Lightsource BP now targeting 25GW solar developments by 2025: On 20^th September, Lightsource BP announced it had secured a new $1.8 billion credit and trade finance facility that will help fuel its new global growth strategy of developing 25GW of solar by 2025. The funding, provided by 10 top tier global financial institutions1, underpins Lightsource BP’s growth ambitions and execution strategy as it continues to accelerate the deployment of solar across the EMEA, Americas and Asia Pacific regions. Read more
• Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath to head bp’s gas & low carbon energy business: On 14^th September, BP announced the appointment of Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath as its new executive vice president, gas and low carbon energy, and member of bp’s leadership team. Until recently she was chief executive officer of RWE Renewables, one of the world’s leading renewables businesses. Anja-Isabel will join bp on March 1st 2022. Read more
• BP delivers its first carbon offset LNG cargo in Asia-Pacific: On 6^th September, BP Singapore announced that it has delivered its first carbon offset liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo to CPC Corporation, Taiwan (CPC), to the Yung An terminal in Taiwan in September 2021 and was sourced from BP’s LNG portfolio. This is BP’s first delivery of carbon offset LNG in the Asia-Pacific region. Read more

• BP study confirms feasibility of large-scale production of green hydrogen and green ammonia using renewable energy in Australia: On 11^th August, BP Australia announced the findings of its study into the feasibility of an export-scale green hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Western Australia. The study found that the production of green hydrogen and green ammonia using renewable energy is technically feasible at scale in Australia. Read more
• BP bolsters UK blue hydrogen plans by reaching agreements with more potential customers: On 5^th August, BP announced that it has agreed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with a series of new potential customers for its proposed clean hydrogen production facility in Teesside in north-east England. In March, BP announced plans for a clean hydrogen facility in Teesside (H2Teesside) that would aim to produce up to 1GW of ‘blue’ hydrogen – 20% of the UK’s hydrogen target – by 2030. Read more
• BP teams up with Quaybridge to accelerate offshore wind growth: On 22^nd July, BP announced that it has formed an exclusive consultancy agreement with Quaybridge, a leading UK-based renewables consultancy with global expertise in offshore wind.  The two will work together to advance bp’s global offshore wind portfolio as part of its zero-carbon growth strategy, and accelerate the building of in-house offshore wind knowledge for BP. Read more
• BP and partner EnBW submit bid for ScotWind lease: On 19^th July, BP and EnBW submitted their bid for offshore wind acreage in the ScotWind leasing round. The consortium has applied for a lease area off the east coast of Scotland that could support offshore wind projects with 2.9 gigawatts (GW) generating capacity. But the bid seeks to go far beyond developing wind power and aims to accelerate Scotland’s entire energy transition – from producing clean power to using it in new industries. Read more
• BP closes on 7X solar acquisition: On 7^th July, BP closed its deal with US solar developer 7X Energy for 9GW of solar development projects. The projects are spread across 12 US states, with the largest portfolios in Texas (ERCOT) and the Midwest (PJM). Assets with a combined generating capacity of 2.2GW are expected to reach final investment decision (FID) by 2025, with further projects progressing by 2030. Read more

Capterio

Capterio provides gas flaring solutions for energy companies to capture flared gas, create value, reduce pollution, and improve reputation.

• Capterio launches free and open-access flare tracker tool, FlareIntel: Capterio has launched FlareIntel, a free satellite-aided gas flare tracker for the oil & gas sector. FlareIntel enables anyone to track every flare, at every facility, globally. After all, routine flaring needs to end if we want to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Read more

Upcoming events

NAPEC

Oil & Gas, Energy. Oran, 01 Nov. to 11 Nov. 2021 www.napec-dz.com

Going further

Would you like to promote your organisation to the ABBC membership? Read more

Interested in ABBC membership? ABBC membership offers you unique benefits including insights, advice and networking in and around Algeria – find out why leading British organisations choose ABBC membership. Read more

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