By: Al24 news

ALGIERS – Algerian Minister of State, Minister of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energy, Mohamed Arkab, met with the Japanese Ambassador to Algeria, Suzuki Kotaro, on Sunday to discuss strengthening cooperation in the fields of energy and mining, the Algerian Ministry of Energy said in a statement.

During the meeting, both sides explored ways to deepen the partnership between Algeria and Japan in the energy, mining, and renewable energy sectors, emphasising the long-standing and strong historical ties between the two nations, the source said.

Discussions focused on new cooperation opportunities, particularly in hydrocarbons, such as exploration activities and field development, as well as in renewable energy, including solar energy, hydrogen development, and energy storage.

Minister Arkab highlighted Algeria’s major development programs in energy, mining, and renewable energy and stressed the importance of Japanese companies’ involvement in these strategic projects. Moreover, he underscored the need for knowledge transfer, training, technological advancement, and local manufacturing of equipment, particularly in renewable energy and seawater desalination.

The meeting also paid special attention to mining cooperation, focusing on opportunities for exploring and exploiting rare minerals and rare earth elements, alongside Algeria’s large-scale mining projects aimed at boosting the national economy.

The Japanese ambassador expressed strong interest from Japanese companies in investing in Algeria, praising the favourable investment climate and the abundant opportunities available, especially in hydrocarbons, mining, and renewable energy. He reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to advancing cooperation in these areas to benefit both countries.