A major undertaking is currently underway to develop a 3,300 km hydrogen pipeline that will connect North Africa to Europe as part of the SoutH2 Corridor project.

The planned hydrogen pipeline will originate in Algeria’s Hassi R’mel region, which is already a major producer of natural gas in Africa. It will traverse Algeria, passing through the city of Hassi Messaoud before reaching Tunisia’s Sfax. From there, the pipeline will cross the Mediterranean Sea and connect to Italy’s existing network managed by Snam S.p.A., continuing its journey through Austria and Germany.

One of the notable aspects of the SoutH2 Corridor project is its emphasis on repurposing existing infrastructure, accounting for around 70% of the planned pipeline. This approach ensures cost-effectiveness while providing access to prime renewable hydrogen production sites in North Africa, thereby facilitating competitive production.

Once fully operational by 2030, the SoutH2 Corridor will become an integral part of the European hydrogen backbone, with an import capacity of over 4 million tonnes per year. The project consortium comprising Snam, Trans Austria Gasleitung, Gas Connect Austria, and Bayernets aims to establish a sustainable hydrogen economy by connecting regions with high renewable hydrogen potential to consumer markets in Europe, fostering energy cooperation between Africa and Europe.

Hydrogen Networks