Eni and Algeria’s Sonatrach have signed a new Memorandum of Intent (MoI) to expand cooperation on decarbonization initiatives and emissions reduction across Algeria’s oil and gas sector, while promoting the adoption of international industry practices, according to a press release by Eni.
The agreement builds on a three-year MoI signed by the companies in January 2023 to reduce gas flaring, monetize recovered gas, and mitigate emissions associated with upstream activities in Algeria.
Under the new agreement, Eni and Sonatrach will broaden their cooperation to include natural carbon dioxide (CO₂) removal initiatives through forestry projects. They will also strengthen efforts to monitor, quantify, and reduce methane emissions in line with relevant international oil and gas standards.
As part of the 2023 agreement, the companies established a joint program covering technical assessments, capacity-building initiatives, and field visits. The program focused on identifying opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas and methane emissions while training technicians to conduct on-site measurements.
The work identified several potential initiatives, including reducing fugitive and venting emissions, improving energy efficiency, developing renewable energy projects, reducing gas flaring, and assessing carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) opportunities.
One of the initiatives involved a Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) campaign covering 800 kilometers of pipelines and approximately 7,500 monitoring points, resulting in a reduction in fugitive emissions. Eni and Sonatrach joint ventures now conduct LDAR measurement campaigns routinely and independently.
The companies also established baseline emissions across six upstream assets operated jointly by Eni and Sonatrach in Algeria.
